Ho Kwon Ping

Ho Kwon Ping (; born 24 August 1952) is a Singaporean businessman. He is the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Group and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, and executive chairman of Thai Wah Public Company.

He was the founding chairman of Singapore Management University (SMU) and has chaired Singapore Power and MediaCorp Singapore. He has also served on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Diageo, Singapore Airlines, and GIC.

Early life Ho was born to Ho Rih Hwa, a businessman and diplomat, and Li Lienfung, the bilingual author.

Ho was born in Hong Kong, but spent his childhood in Thailand where his father, Ho Rih Hwa, was Singapore's ambassador to the country. He was educated in Thailand, Taiwan, the US and Singapore. He went on to Tunghai University in Taiwan where the exposure to Chinese culture left a deep impact on him. After a year in Taiwan, he left for Stanford University in the US. After returning to Singapore, he did his national service as a combat engineer. He later studied at the National University of Singapore, where he graduated in economics and history with a silver medal awarded by the Singapore Employers' Federation for being the second most outstanding student in the final year examination.

Career

Currently, Ho Kwon Ping is the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Group and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, and executive chairman of Thai Wah Public Company. All three family-owned companies are listed in Singapore and Thailand. His detainment ironically boosted his academic grades as he was "so happy" to gain access to books that "he studied for 18 hours a day and topped the entire faculty in the examinations".

Ho was appointed the inaugural S. R. Nathan Fellow by the Institute of Policy Studies in 2014, and delivered five public lectures on Politics & Governance, Economy & Business, Security and Sustainability, Demography and Family, and Society and Identity. Ho was conferred honorary doctorates by Johnson & Wales University in 2000, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2015.

Among various awards, Ho has received the London Business School Entrepreneurship Award; CEO of the Year at the Singapore Corporate Awards; CNBC Travel Business Leader Award; Distinguished Alumnus Award from the National University of Singapore; and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Creativity Association, China Hotel Investment Summit and Australia Hotel Investment Summit. Most recently, Ho received the prestigious Outstanding Contribution award at AHEAD Asia 2024.

For his services to the country he has been decorated with the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Order by the Singapore Government. In 2011, he was voted top Thinker in Singapore in the Yahoo! Singapore 9 Awards.

In the interview article of Ho by Channel NewsAsia as Banyan Tree turned 25 in 2020, he is described as "easily one of Singapore's most recognisable entrepreneurs" as "the face of an award-winning hospitality empire that comprises 49 hotels and resorts, 64 spas, 76 retail galleries, and three golf courses in 23 countries".

Personal life Ho's father was businessman and diplomat Ho Rih Hwa. His mother was chemist and bilingual writer Li Lienfung. Ho is married to entrepreneur and former Nominated Member of Parliament, Claire Chiang. Claire is the co-founder and senior vice-president of Banyan Group, where she also chairs the company's China Business Development division and the Banyan Global Foundation. A strong advocate for gender equality and education, she served as a nominated member of Parliament from 1997 to 2001 and was inducted to the Singapore Women's Hall of fame in 2018. He has also written a book, Asking Why, which reflects his journey in journalism and entrepreneurship. and five grandchildren.