Strictly Business: The Kwek Leng Beng Story

“Kwek Leng Beng’s story is worth reading. In my years interacting with him as a government minister and as a friend, I found him thoughtful, realistic and creative. He is not given to publicity or flashy living. He is a worrier. His lifework consisted of building on what he inherited from his father and turning CDL into a remarkable international enterprise.” –George Yeo, former Cabinet Minister of Singapore

“I have known LB in the same industry for 35 years and there are very few people who have weathered the significant ups and downs of the hotel business better than him. I have admired his tenacity, instincts and pure determination at building CDL into the organisation it is today ― an amazing achievement by an amazing man and it is my pleasure to call him my friend.” –Sir David Michels, former Chief Executive of the Hilton Group and former President of the British Hospitality Association

“I have known Kwek Leng Beng (whom I call LB with affection) for over 38 years and am privileged to witness the ascent of CDL over the past four decades with admiration. No one has done as much to build this world-class company with its trusted brand in Singapore. LB was the prime mover in spreading the wings of CDL into other markets with astute investments in prime real estate at opportune times in the market cycle invariably, as well as to assemble an international chain of hotels ― never an easy feat as real estate success rarely transcends geographical boundaries. LB is one of the most respected personalities in Asian real estate and his biography will be a precious recollection of how the enterprise was built through the ups and downs of the property cycle as well as global business cycle, his knack for the deals be it at home or abroad, and his instinctive understanding of international real estate. It is a valuable part of the annals of Singapore real estate and business, and most certainly an essential read for those of us in business.” –Philip Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Far East Organization

The fascinating story of one of Singapore’s great entrepreneurs and developers. The mysterious Kwek Leng Beng comes to life as he travels the world and builds a great hotel empire, real estate developments and a wide variety of other businesses. His insight and determination saved the Marina Bay Sands’ design and enabled its realization. This is a tale of power, wealth, combined with sheer determination, which reads as a metaphor for Singapore’s rise as a nation.” –Moshe Safdie, architect of Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi Airport

“Kwek Leng Beng is a maverick entrepreneur who is deeply passionate about hotels and properties. He has put Singapore on the map with his hotels around the world. There are few Asian business leaders with his proven track record across six decades. Strictly Business tells you the secrets behind this master dealmaker’s success.” –Philip Yeo, former Chairman of the Economic Development Board in Singapore

“Over my two-decades-long relationship, I have found Chairman Kwek smart, practical, honest, and loyal to his friends. I admire and respect him not only as a professional business person but also as a personal friend. He is a man of his words. I think very highly of him. This long overdue book captures his sharp business instincts. It places him among the giants of Asia’s top business leaders.” –W Chan Kim, Distinguished Professor and Co-director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute, named the Most Influential Management Thinker in the world

“I have been privileged to know Chairman Kwek Leng Beng since the early days of Hong Leong Group, CDL, and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. I have watched with admiration how he has built these companies into highly successful property and hotel owners, internationally as well as in Singapore. He is one of the world’s great business leaders. Managing different businesses in different countries is complicated and few people have this skill set, but Chairman Kwek clearly does. Chairman Kwek has received numerous awards for his business acumen and for his ability to succeed in diverse sectors ― property, hotels and finance ― around the world. His is one of the great international success stories, so his book will be a compelling read.” –Sir John Bond, former Chairman of HSBC

Shing Huei Peh is the author and editor of numerous No. 1 bestsellers on Singapore politics, government and business, including most recently The Price of Being Fair and The Last Fools. He was behind a pair of biographies on former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong: Tall Order and Standing Tall. He was also a winner of the Singapore Literature Prize for his book When the Party Ends. He is a founding partner of content agency The Nutgraf, and former news editor and China bureau chief at The Straits Times.