Lee Seng Wee

Lee Seng Wee
李成伟
Born(1930-04-04)4 April 1930
Died7 August 2015(2015-08-07) (aged 85)
Alma materUniversity of Toronto (BEng)
University of Western Ontario (MBA)
OccupationBusinessman
Children3
Parent(s)Lee Kong Chian (father)
Tan Ai Leh (mother)
RelativesTan Kah Kee (maternal grandfather)
Lee Seng Gee (brother)
Lee Seng Tee (brother)

Lee Seng Wee DUBC (Chinese: 李成伟; pinyin: Lǐ Chéngwěi; 4 April 1930 – 7 August 2015) was a Singaporean banker and businessman.

Early life

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Lee was the third son of Lee Kong Chian, and maternal grandson of Tan Kah Kee.

Lee was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School in Singapore[1] before graduating from the University of Toronto, where he studied engineering. He subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Western Ontario, where he topped his class.[2]

Career

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Upon returning to Singapore, Lee joined the Lee Rubber Company and rose to the position of vice-chairman. He subsequently became a director of the second-largest bank in Southeast Asia, OCBC Bank, where he served from 1966 to 2016, and later chairman from 1995 to 2003.[3] He orchestrated a S$2.4 billion takeover bid for Singapore's then-fifth largest bank, Keppel Capital Holdings in June 2001.[4]

In 2003, Lee stepped down as chairman and moved to a non-executive position, but continued to guide the strategic direction of the bank. Major investments and acquisitions during his long tenure include OCBC-NISP in Indonesia, OCBC China Bank, OCBC-Wing Hang in Hong Kong; the private banking business of ING Asia Bank, majority control of Great Eastern Life Insurance and a 20 percent stake in Bank of Ningbo in China. The net profit after tax for OCBC Group was almost S$4 billion for 2015.

In addition to his role in OCBC, Lee was also a director of several companies, including Lee Rubber Group Companies and Lee Foundation.[5] He served as a board member of the GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund and the Council of Presidential Advisors, Singapore.

Lee was conferred the Distinguished Service Order in 2001.[6][7] In 2006, he received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship in New York for contributions to Singapore.[8]

Death

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On 7 August 2015, at the age of 85, Lee died of complications arising from a head injury sustained during a fall at home.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "In Memoriam - Mr Lee Seng Wee". www.blueskiescom.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ^ Suryadinata, Leo (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I & II. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 541. ISBN 9789814345217. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Former OCBC Bank chairman Lee Seng Wee dies aged 85". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Lee Seng Wee". Forbes. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. ^ U-Wen, Lee. "Former OCBC chairman Lee Seng Wee dies, aged 85". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. ^ Vasoo, Sharon; Tan, Suan Ann (9 August 2001). "Honours for people from all walks of life". The Straits Times.
  7. ^ "PMO | Recipients | The Distinguished Service Order | 2001". Prime Minister's Office (Singapore). 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Woodrow Wilson Awards". WilsonCenter.org. 3 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Former OCBC chairman Lee Seng Wee dies aged 85, Banking News & Top Stories - The Straits Times". The Straits Times. 10 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)