Former AECOM senior executive appointed to lead Surbana Jurong Group.
Surbana Jurong Group has named Sean Chiao as its new group chief executive officer with effect from 1 April 2023. Chiao, who was a senior executive at AECOM, takes over the role vacated by Wong Heang Fine, who retired last September.
On making the appointment, the group said it was poised to accelerate its transformation into a global consulting leader in urban, infrastructure and managed services.
With more than 35 years’ experience in design and engineering consulting for the built environment as well as global business leadership, Chiao previously led the Asia Pacific operations of one of the world’s largest infrastructure, design and engineering companies, AECOM. A passionate urbanist and firm advocate of collaboration to create holistic solutions, he has spearheaded many iconic projects in the region harnessing multidisciplinary expertise.
Chiao, who is from Taiwan, holds a degree in architecture and a master of architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and a master of architecture in urban design from the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University.
Commenting on the appointment, Surbana Jurong group chairman Chaly Mah said: “The board undertook a rigorous global search for a group CEO with a clear objective – to grow Surbana Jurong into a global platform and drive lasting positive change through leadership. Sean has extensive Asia-Pacific as well as global experience, deep insight to the industry and an outstanding track record of business results.”
“We are confident that we have found in Sean the right leader for Surbana Jurong as we advance the implementation of SJ 2.0, the group’s roadmap to becoming one of the top urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firms in Asia-Pacific.”
Sean Chiao said: “I am inspired by the SJ 2.0 strategy to position Surbana Jurong for leadership in an era of sustainability and digital transformation and as an employer of choice in the built environment, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to fulfil these aspirations. In becoming a leading urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm, Surbana Jurong will be able to provide the full scope of our global expertise to clients and communities everywhere.”
