Dr Cheong Choong Kong

Cheong Choong Kong, Dr (b. 9 June 1941, Malaysia - ), notable Chief Executive of Singapore Airlines (SIA). Under his leadership, SIA boasted a history of profitability and zero debt, even during the Asian economic crisis that crippled many of its competitors.

Education
Cheong studied in Australia as a Colombo Plan scholar and holds a BSc degree from the University of Adelaide and a PhD in Mathematics from the Australian National University in Canberra.

Career
Cheong was a mathematics lecturer at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and was an Associate Professor before he joined Singapore Airlines as a manager in 1974. He served in Personnel, Marketing, Planning and Information Technology before becoming Managing Director in 1984, and Deputy Chairman and CEO on 1 August 1996.

1984 : Chairman of Singapore Airport Terminal Services
1984: Chairman of SIA Engineering Company
1984 - 1995 : Chairman of Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, and after its corporatisation, as chairman of its successor, Singapore International Media.
1991 : Board Member of the Singapore International Foundation
1994 : Council Member of the Australia-Asia Institute
1995 : Vice-Chairman of the Singapore-US Business Council
1996 : Board Member of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
1997 : Director of Singapore Press Holdings
1999 : Director of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd
1999 : Chairman of the ABACUS International Pte Ltd
2000 : Director of Air New Zealand
2000 : Chairman of NUS Council

Awards
1996 : Outstanding Chief Executive Award (Business Times/DHL)
1997 : Hall of Fame Award (airline category)
1998 : Asian Businessman of the Year Award (Fortune magazine)
1999 : Distinguished Alumni Award (University of Adelaide)

Family
Wife: Yong Nguk Lan
Children: One son and one daughter



Author
Doris Neo



References 
Low, K. C., & Dunlop, P. K. G. (Eds.). (2000). Who's who in Singapore (p. 33). Singapore: Who's Who Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 920.05957 WHO) 

Asian businessman of the year can't say no to fortune. (1999, January 22). The Business Times (Singapore), p. 3. 

SIA makes Cheong Choong Kong CEO. (1996, July 16). The Business Times (Singapore), p. 17.

Person of the Year ASIA. Retrieved January 3, 2000, from www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0VOU/2_298/59137123/print.jhtml 


Further Readings
Cheong Choong Kong. (1996). In conversation (25.8.96). Episode 16 Cheong Choong Kong [videotape]. Singapore: Television Corporation of Singapore.
(Call no.: RAV 080.95957 IN) 



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community Leaders
Bussinessmen--Singapore
Executives--Singapore
Airlines--Singapore
Business, finance and industry>>Industry>>Services>>Transportation and logistics



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