SINGAPORE – Three directors on the board of City Developments Limited’s hotel subsidiary have quit, CDL said in a filing on the Singapore Exchange on April 22.
Ms Jennifer Duong Young, Mr Daniel Desbaillets and Mrs Wong Ai Ai resigned as directors of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, which has a portfolio of brands such as Copthorne, The Biltmore and Grand Millennium.
Their resignations come about a year after they were appointed in the midst of the family feud in 2025 that saw CDL executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng filing a lawsuit against his son Sherman Kwek, who is CDL’s group chief executive officer.
The three directors who resigned were among the six directors alongside Mr Sherman Kwek who were accused by the elder Mr Kwek of trying to take control of CDL.
The lawsuit was eventually dropped when a key adviser to the elder Mr Kwek – Ms Catherine Wu – left the hotel unit.
Ms Wu had already resigned as director from the hotel unit in 2024, but had remained as an unpaid independent adviser to the board.
Who are the three directors who have left the hotel unit?
Ms Jennifer Duong Young was one of the two new directors who were at the centre of the father-son feud in 2025.
PHOTO: CDL
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Was one of the two new directors who were at the centre of the father-son feud in 2025
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Spent 21 years at Credit Suisse
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Holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration in Accountancy from Victoria University of Wellington
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Was a former Chartered Accountant with the New Zealand Institute of Accountants
Mr Daniel Desbaillets was part of the legal battle in 2025 when Mr Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, saying Mr Sherman Kwek allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board.
PHOTO: CDL
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Part of the legal battle in 2025 when Mr Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, saying Mr Sherman Kwek allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board
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Has 46 years of experience in the hospitality industry
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Since 1973, he has been holding senior positions with international hotel chains including InterContinental Hotel Group, Hilton, Shangri-La, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Group, Fullerton Hotels and Resorts
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He is also the executive chairman of family-owned businesses in the F&B industry, including names like Salad Stop
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Holds a Diploma in Commercial Studies from Ecole Benedict Geneva, Switzerland
Mrs Wong Ai Ai spent three decades with law firm Baker McKenzie.
PHOTO: CDL
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Part of the legal battle in 2025 when Mr Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, saying Mr Sherman Kwek allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board
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Spent three decades with law firm Baker McKenzie
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Was the Principal in Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow till 2023
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She is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Public Service Commission’s Disciplinary Panel of Persons and a member of the Board of Visiting Judges and Board of Inspection appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs
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Holds a Master of Law from Harvard University Law School
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Mr Kwek Leng Beng
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Mr Kwek Eik Sheng, nephew of Mr Kwek Leng Beng, CDL group chief operating officer
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Mr Jonathon Mackenzie Grech, who was director at other hotel companies in Britain
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Mr Alexander Richard Jason Wade, founding partner of London-based investment firm Knightsbridge Wealth Limited
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Ms Caroline Besson Frankel, French director residing in Britain
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Mr Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, an experienced business leader in real estate and finance
