Singapore's first lady steers economy
WATARU YOSHIDA, Nikkei staff writer
Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings
SINGAPORE -- Ho Ching, the chief executive of Singapore's government-owned investment fund Temasek Holdings, is the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She commands the economy with a cool head.
Temasek has Singapore Telecommunications and other leading companies under its wing. It has been increasing investment in overseas. Although she has seldom made public appearances since taking the CEO job in 2004, her few remarks suggest she adopts a flexible management style.
"I move to the center of investment as situations dictate," she once said. Temasek used to focus on investment in U.S. and European financial institutions before the Great Recession. Now, it is buying into natural resources and energy sectors. Temasek is also diversifying -- it has acquired a stake in an Indian movie production company.
Ho announced her intention to step down in 2009, but decided to stay on. She says she is constantly looking for a successor. The CEO of Temasek is powerful enough to affect the Singaporean economy. Will Ho find a successor this year?
WATARU YOSHIDA, Nikkei staff writer
Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings
SINGAPORE -- Ho Ching, the chief executive of Singapore's government-owned investment fund Temasek Holdings, is the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She commands the economy with a cool head.
Temasek has Singapore Telecommunications and other leading companies under its wing. It has been increasing investment in overseas. Although she has seldom made public appearances since taking the CEO job in 2004, her few remarks suggest she adopts a flexible management style.
"I move to the center of investment as situations dictate," she once said. Temasek used to focus on investment in U.S. and European financial institutions before the Great Recession. Now, it is buying into natural resources and energy sectors. Temasek is also diversifying -- it has acquired a stake in an Indian movie production company.
Ho announced her intention to step down in 2009, but decided to stay on. She says she is constantly looking for a successor. The CEO of Temasek is powerful enough to affect the Singaporean economy. Will Ho find a successor this year?
