SIA CEO bags Dwight D Eisenhower Global Innovation Award

The chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines (SIA), Goh Choon Phong, has been awarded the Dwight D Eisenhower Global Innovation Award, making him the first recipient from South-east Asia.

The award, presented by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), was given out on Monday night in New York at a gala event.

It was given to Mr Goh for his "transformational leadership of Singapore Airlines".

BCIU is a non-profit US business association dedicated to forging relationships and promoting dialogue between government and business communities across the globe.

Said BCIU president Peter Tichansky, in presenting Mr Goh the award: "His drive to innovate is representative of Singapore's global leadership in building a smart nation for the world to experience and in many ways emulate."

Receiving the award, Mr Goh said he was proud to accept it on behalf of the 25,000 employees of the airline.

He said: "The perseverance of our staff, combined with their shared enthusiasm and constant desire to enhance the travel experience of our customers, makes this an award for all our employees, rather than just for me."

At the same event, Dow Chemicals Company chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris was presented the 2016 Dwight D Eisenhower Business Statesman Award.

Now in their 13th year, the awards are named after former US president Dwight D Eisenhower, who established BCIU in 1955.

Its membership includes many of the world's largest corporations in all major industries.

Past winners have included Masami Iijima from Mitsui & Co, Marillyn Hewson from Lockheed Martin, football legend Pele, Ratan Tata from Tata Trusts and Sergio Marchionne from Fiat Chrysler

This article was first published on December 07, 2016.
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