KSK Group Joanne Kua in Forbes Asia's inaugural Emergent 25 list

SINGAPORE: Joanne Kua, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Malaysia-based KSK Group, is listed in the Forbes Asia's inaugural Emergent 25 List which honours businesswomen making their mark in regional enterprises.

Kua, 33, who is also the managing director of KSK Land Sdn Bhd, joined her father's insurance and finance business seven years ago.

Since then, she has transformed KSK Group into a diversified conglomerate by adding property development and technology investments to its portfolio and the group's total assets was now worth around US$410 million (US$1 = RM3.93).

Forbes Asia Editor Tim Ferguson said the women on the list represented the new cohort of top-level achievers who built on the pioneering accomplishments of those recognised in previous Power Business Women lists.

“Glass ceilings are being shattered in many quarters of Asia-Pacific business,” he said in a statement.

Forbes Asia said the listees reflected the broader impact women were having in the Asian business world, and were chosen for the money they generate, the influence they wield, and the ideas and trends they are advancing.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Kuok Hui Kwong, 40, daughter of Malaysia's richest man, Robert Kuok, was also featured in the list.

She rose to the top of her father's luxury crown jewel, Shangri-La Asia, at the beginning of 2017, taking over from her elder brother.

As chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Shangri-La, she oversees total assets of US$13.2 billion, including stakes in 77 of more than 100 hotels the Kuok family manages around the world under four brands, Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen and Traders, as well as, side businesses in wine and golf courses.

China had the most number of businesswomen featured with four, followed by three each from Japan, India and Hong Kong. Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea each had two respectively while there was one each from the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand.

The full list is available at www.forbes.com/emergent-25-businesswomen/ and in the latest issue of Forbes Asia. - Bernama