Thales Appoints Kevin Chow as Singapore Chief Executive Officer
SINGAPORE – June 30, 2016 – Thales, a world leader in Aerospace, Defence, Security, Space and Transportation, has appointed Kevin Chow as Country Director for Thales Singapore and Chief Executive Officer for Thales Solutions Asia Pte Ltd. Mr. Chow is the first Singaporean designated with this key role at Thales.
As head of Thales Singapore, Mr. Chow will lead and drive the company’s growth in the country. Thales is committed to expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, where Singapore plays a critical role as it serves as a regional hub for key business activities, including avionics production as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for avionics and inflight entertainment systems.
In Singapore, Thales has also built strong industrial capabilities in the fields of security and transportation, and is a long-term provider of defence solutions in the country. With a strong commitment to research and technology, Singapore is also home to Thales’s regional Innovation Hub, which leverages on the country’s eco-system to design and develop leading-edge technical solutions in collaboration with key customers.
Mr. Chow succeeds Jean-Noel Stock who has moved on to a senior management position in Thales’s military avionics business, based in Bordeaux, France.
“Kevin’s solid track record in the local market, coupled with a great understanding of the global avionics and engineering landscape make him a logical choice for Thales,” said Marie-Laure Bourgeois, Vice President, South & South East Asia, Thales Group. “We are very pleased to welcome him to Thales and look forward to strengthening and expanding our business in Singapore under his leadership.”
“I am thrilled to join Thales, a highly-respected technology leader in the fields of aerospace, transport, defence, and security,” said Mr. Chow. “Singapore’s vision of building a smart nation and its sustained expansion in the areas of civil aviation and ground transportation present many opportunities for Thales to bring integrated technology solutions to help address the pressing challenges that businesses and governments face today.”
Prior to joining Thales, Mr. Chow was the Vice President and General Manager at ST Aerospace Resources Pte Ltd, where he launched and spearheaded the company’s aircraft leasing business, attracting US$75 million external equity investment into a fund managed by the company. Before that, he was Vice President, Strategic Plans and Business Development for Singapore Technologies (ST) Aerospace, responsible for ST Aerospace’s strategy, alliances, partnerships and Mergers & Acquisitions activities. During this period, five successful investments were made, strengthening the capabilities and market access of ST Aerospace across multiple aerospace businesses.
Mr. Chow has also worked with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and served in several leadership positions based in Singapore and Europe, including three concurrent roles in 2010 - Deputy Director (Transport Engineering), Deputy Director (Precision Engineering) and Deputy Director (Europe Desk). In this capacity, he oversaw the EDB’s initiatives in aerospace, marine, land transport, oil & gas equipment and services, machinery and systems, and precision modules & components.
Mr. Chow holds a Masters of Science degree in Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University, UK and Diplome d’Ingénieur (Masters degree in Engineering) from Ecole Nationale d’Aviation Civile in Toulouse, France.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2015. With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
About Thales in Singapore
Established in 1973, Thales has been present in Singapore for over 40 years, providing state-of-the-art solutions for customers in the aerospace, defence, security and transportation markets. Thales today employs close to 650 people in the country, with strong local capabilities in avionics production, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), transportation and security solutions. Strongly committed to research and technology as well as collaboration with local partners and customers, Thales runs a Research & Technology centre, a local Innovation Hub and engages in academic partnerships to complement Singapore’s eco-system as a research and development hub.