When staff at semiconductor equipment company KLA clock their cardio minutes on the treadmill or bench press at one of its three gyms, they might just bump into KLA’s Singapore country president Theo Kneepkens.
The 57-year-old believes that an active workforce means a happier and more motivated one, and he is leading by example.
“I work out at the company’s gyms in the hope that others will follow and I’m perfectly fine if they use the gym at 10am or 3pm – whatever works best for their schedules,” he says.
For the last 15 years, Mr Kneepkens has been advocating a healthier lifestyle for staff.
If you feel good, you think clearer, sleep better and have a positive mindset, with more energy to thrive in a fast-paced and demanding industry , he explains.
The focus is probably why KLA is known to field one of the largest corporate teams for major running events . Mr Kneepkens walks the talk – literally by taking part as well.
But the initiatives are not always top-down. KLA also sponsors 11 employee-initiated interest groups. Staff can make a proposal to the human resources (HR) team to start a group around a particular interest, whether it is for the venue, equipment, snacks or even an instructor.
About 40 per cent of KLA’s employees are involved in these interest groups, which range from badminton and bouldering to cycling and football. Newer ones include pickleball and dragonboat.
Such groups encourage an active lifestyle outside of working hours and also foster camaraderie across different departments, says Mr Kneepkens.
As a result of its employee-centric practices, KLA has been named one of Singapore’s 250 best employers in a list compiled by global research firm Statista in collaboration with The Straits Times.
KLA’s Singapore country president, Theo Kneepkens, 57, leads by example, regularly working out at the company’s gyms and joining employees in running events.
PHOTO: KLA
Along with exercise, Mr Kneepkens emphasises that they invest a lot in educating staff about diet. For example, KLA collaborated with NHG Health on the Sugar Smart Programme last year to educate employees on reducing sugar intake. They were taught, for instance, to decipher sugar content labels on food packaging and to choose healthier snacks.
As KLA does not have an in-house canteen, Mr Kneepkens says it is all the more important to guide his team in making the right eating choices “not just once a day but for every meal”. The company also hopes that employees will have a positive influence on their families and friends with their newly acquired habits.
He proudly shares that several employees have told him that they have seen a significant transformation after visiting the gym and reducing their sugar intake. He himself lost 10kg over one year.
In 2026, KLA is again partnering NHG Health on a new Muscle Up For Health Programme which educates staff on the role of muscle strength in maintaining a good quality of life as they age.
“The key success factors for the Sugar Smart and Muscle Up for Health programmes are leadership commitment and support,” says Dr Chan Tat Hon, programme director, Workplace Health, at NHG Health. “KLA has been exemplary to work with in curating workplace health programmes for employee well-being. These are not just events, but are something authentic from the leadership.”
Thanks to the Muscle Up For Health Programme, Ms Joey Tan, a master scheduler manager who has been at KLA for 18 years, says she is now motivated to take the stairs in her office building instead of the lift. She also visits the gym and swims more on weekends.
The 42-year-old says: “I thought that I’m still young and so, I didn’t focus on muscle health. But now I have a better understanding of how it can impact me and what I can do to have a healthier lifespan.”
Mr Kneepkens adds that as KLA has one of the lowest attrition rates in its sector, and the company’s focus on team wellness is part of what keeps employees at KLA for so long.
“There is more to life than your job, and we want to help our employees live and feel their best, regardless of where they are or what they are doing.”
Read more about Singapore’s Best Employers 2026.
