Philips ASEAN Pacific chief exec dies

The chief executive of tech firm Philips ASEAN Pacific died yesterday after a battle with cancer.

Mr Fabian Wong, 57, leaves a wife and son.

He was first diagnosed with cancer early last year, said the Dutch electronics giant in a statement, and had been on medical leave since last June.

Mr Wong was the first Singaporean chief executive of Philips ASEAN Pacific in 17 years when he took up his appointment in July 2015.

Ms Caroline Clarke stepped in for him when he became ill and will continue in the role.

Mr Wong was somewhat of an atypical multinational boss - he did not have a university degree and worked his way up, starting from the bottom as a retail sector buyer.

Philips said: "He was passionate about how he could help make Philips stronger. A well-respected and well-liked leader, Fabian was always thinking about how each and every Philips employee could grow."

Mr Wong was with the firm for about 24 years, including 11 in China, where he achieved impressive results, such as double-digit growth year on year for the consumer lifestyle business for about seven years.

He told The Straits Times when he was appointed CEO in July 2015: "To perform well, there's no short cut, and no easy way out. And I'm always on a lookout for development opportunities; I'm always doing more than called for."

rachaelb@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 6, 2017.
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