Liew Mun Leong, Lee Seow Hiang appointed to board of Bhutan's ...

SINGAPORE corporate leaders Liew Mun Leong and Lee Seow Hiang have been appointed to the board of Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

GMC, heralded as the world’s first mindfulness city, is Bhutan’s new economic hub “designed to reframe core principles of economic and social development”. The GMC will operate as a special administrative region and be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power. 

Liew, appointed as CEO, will oversee GMC, drawing on his experience in international investment and development projects, said a statement in early October.

A primary focus of his role will be capacity building, which involves developing Bhutanese talent for future leadership within GMC.

Liew previously held leadership roles with CapitaLand, Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Surbana Jurong Group.

He announced his retirement in September 2020 from public-service and business roles at CAG, Surbana Jurong, Temasek Foundation and Temasek International.

As the founding CEO and president of CapitaLand Group, he led the company to a US$12 billion market cap and expanded its operations to over 20 countries, making it South-east Asia’s largest real estate group.

At CAG, he played a key role in the development of Jewel Changi Airport and other major projects.

Lee Seow Hiang, the former CEO of CAG, was appointed to the board of directors at GMC, where he brings insights into urban development and international connectivity.

He stepped down as CEO on Jul 1 after 15 years at the helm, and was also the founding CEO of CAG since it was corporatised in 2009.

On his watch, he oversaw several major developments at the airport, including the launch of Terminal 4 in 2017, and the opening of Jewel in 2019.

In 2018, he was named Outstanding Chief Executive of the Year at the Singapore Business Awards organised by The Business Times, in recognition of his leadership in the continued development of Changi Airport as one of the world’s leading air hubs.