Board of Directors

Yeah Hiang Nam (PBM) was appointed as the Executive Chairman of our Company on 1 January 2022. He is the founder of the company and is responsible for leading the Board and focusing it on strategic matters. He oversees the Group’s business, sets the governance standards and fosters the effectiveness of the Board and individual Directors.

Mr. Yeah has over 50 years of experience dealing with gold and jewellery and over 30 years in the pawnbroking industry. He started as a jewellery salesman in 1969 and in 1979 founded Golden Goldsmith Jewellers, which manufactured and wholesaled gold ornaments. In 1989, he started Ban Soon Pawnshop Pte Ltd with other business partners.

Mr. Yeah is a recipient of both the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Financial Services Category in 2019 as well as Top Entrepreneur in the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2010 by the Rotary-ASME. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2016 for his contributions to society and business. He is a Patron of Clementi Citizens’ Consultative Committee and the Honorary Presidents for Singapore Pawnbrokers Association, Teo Yeonh Huai Kuan, and Yeow Si Gong Huay.

Yeah Chia Kai was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of our Company on 1 January 2022 and is responsible for the overall strategy and business development of the Group.

Mr. Yeah joined our company as an Operations Executive in 2004. He founded Mischief Studios Pte Ltd, a software development company, and served as its executive producer in 2006, before reassuming the role of Operations Manager of our Group in 2007. In 2013, Mr. Yeah was appointed as an Executive Director of the Company where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of the pawnbroking and retail businesses.

Mr. Yeah was conferred dual Master of Business Administration degrees from Columbia University and London Business School. He graduated from Curtin University of Technology with a Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing degree. He also holds a Certified Diamond Grader Diploma by the HRD Antwerp and a Foundation Certificate in Gemology from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Mr. Yeah is an Executive Committee Member of the Credit Association of Singapore.

Yeah Lee Ching was appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer of the company on 6 January 2022. She also holds the position of an Executive Director of the Company as of 12 April 2013. She is responsible for leading the planning, development and execution of our Group’s marketing initiatives. Ms. Yeah also oversees the valuation, gold trading, as well as the corporate communications of our Group.

Ms. Yeah has over 20 years of experience in the jewellery and gemstones industry, having been the General Manager of Golden Success Jewellery Pte Ltd, and then the Marketing and Communications Manager (Asia Pacific) of Signity Management Pte Ltd (now known as Swarovski-Gems). Yeah Lee Ching first joined our Group as Marketing Manager in 2004.

Ms. Yeah received a Master of Business Administration degree from the National University of Singapore. She also holds a Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America. She is currently the Vice President of Enterprise 50 Association, Honorary Secretary of Singapore Pawnbrokers Association and Assistant Secretary of Yeow Si Gong Huay.

Mr Neo Poh Kiat was appointed as the Lead Independent Director of the Company on 1 January 2022. He chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nominating Committee. 

Mr. Neo is the Managing Director of financial advisory firm, Octagon Advisors (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. since March 2005. Between 1976 and January 2005, he held senior managerial positions with companies in the DBS Bank group and United Overseas Bank Ltd, including as Managing Director, DBS Bank and Country Officer (China), Head — Corporate Banking (Greater China) at United Overseas Bank Ltd. From Jan 2005 to 30 June 2001, Mr Neo was Managing Director (Advisory) of Octagon Advisors Pte Ltd.

Mr. Neo is currently an independent director of the public listed companies China Yuchai International Limited and Capitaland China Trust Management Limited. He is also an independent director of privately held companies Cambodia Post Bank Plc and the Fullerton Credit Group of companies in China.

Mr. Neo obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honors) from Nanyang University, Singapore.

Tan Guan Hiang was appointed as an Independent Director on 8 August 2020. She chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee.

Dr Tan was the Head of Group Human Resources for OCBC for 16 years. Prior to her career with OCBC, she headed the Human Resource function for several global companies including the LVMH/ Duty Free Group and Apple Computer in Singapore. She started her career as a lecturer at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore. She is currently an Independent Director of Kingsmen Creatives Ltd. and an Adjunct Lecturer in a local university. She also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

Dr Tan holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; MSc. in Gerontology, University of Southampton; MBA, University of Hull; and a Diploma in Personnel Management, University of Cardiff. She is a trained Executive Coach from Columbia University.

Tan Soon Liang was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 January 2022. He chairs the Nominating Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr. Tan is the founder and managing director of Ti Ventures Pte. Ltd., which invests in growing businesses and provides business management consultancy and corporate development advisory services with respect to company growth and transformation since 2009. He is also the managing director of Omnibridge Capital Pte. Ltd. which focuses on early-stage angel and venture capital investments in Asia. Prior to that, he was the head of business advisory and subsequently, an advisor at BDO Raffles Advisory Pte Ltd. Mr. Tan is an independent director of the public listed companies ISDN Holdings Limited, Clearbridge Health Limited, Choo Chiang Holdings Limited, GDS Global Limited and Colex Holdings Limited.

Mr Tan obtained a Bachelor of Business (Honours) Degree, majoring in Financial Analysis from Nanyang Technological University in 1997 and subsequently a Master of Business Administration Degree from University of Hull, United Kingdom, in 2001. He is a CFA® charterholder from CFA Institute, United States of America. He is a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors. He serves as a Director of Spectra Secondary School and VP (Corporate Engagement and Careers) of NTU NBS Alumni Association.

Lim Teck Chai, Danny was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 January 2022. He is a member of the Nominating and Remuneration Committees.

Mr. Lim has more than 20 years of experience in legal practice. He is currently a partner in the Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group at Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.  He joined the law firm in 1998 and has been practising and advising on all aspects of corporate legal advisory and transactional work, both locally and regionally. He has a wide range of experience in amongst others, acquisitions, investments, takeovers, initial public offerings and restructuring. Mr. Lim is also an independent director of the public listed companies Kimly Limited, Stamford Land Corporation Limited, Choo Chiang Holdings Limited and Advancer Global Limited.

Mr. Lim graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1998 with a Bachelor of Laws degree (Honors). He further received a Master of Science degree in Applied Finance from Nanyang Technological University and was admitted to practice as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Singapore.