Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group has named Sean Chiao Group Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors, effective from April 1.

Chiao brings to Surbana Jurong more than 35 years of experience in design and engineering consulting for the built environment as well as global business leadership.

Previously, he led the Asia Pacific operations of one of the world’s largest infrastructure, design and engineering companies. Chiao has spearheaded many projects in the region harnessing multidisciplinary expertise.

On his priorities, Chiao said: “The climate emergency continues to be the greatest challenge of our time. One of my first priorities will be to ensure that Surbana Jurong’s teams forge a collective approach for innovative, effective action to build a better future for generations to come. This is the right thing to do.”

Chaly Mah, Chairman, Surbana Jurong Group, said on Chiao's appointment, "We are confident that we have found in Sean the right leader for Surbana Jurong as we advance the implementation of SJ 2.0, the Group’s roadmap to becoming one of the top urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firms in Asia Pacific.”

Chiao holds a degree in architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University.