SINGAPORE - Keppel Corp has named Mr Till Bernhard Vestring as an independent director with effect from Feb 16.

Mr Vestring, 50, is viewed by the nominating committee as a very good addition to the board as he would be able to contribute in important areas such as strategy, merger & acquisition, integration and HR-related matters.

Mr Vestring is a director of Bain & Company SE Asia, Inc from 2003 to present.

From 2007 to 2013, he was also its managing partner.

Of his 24-year career with Bain, Mr Vestring has spent over two decades in Asia advising leading companies on portfolio strategy, growth, mergers and acquisitions, merger integration, organisation and performance improvement.

The companies he has advised include those in shipping, offshore & marine, industrial products, automotive, infrastructure, commodities, airlines and telecoms.

Mr Vestring is also part of Bain's Developing Market 100 initiative that partners high-growth companies in developing markets on the journey towards global leadership.

Keppel Corp chairman Lee Boon Yang said: "As Keppel continues to grow multiple businesses on a global scale, Till's expertise in portfolio strategy, mergers and acquisitions, merger integration and human resource related matters will be invaluable."

Mr Vestring sits on the board of Inchcape, a leading global automotive distributor and retailer, as well as those of Singapore Chinese Orchestra Company, Leap Philanthropy and Brocon Investment Co.

With his addition, Keppel's board comprises a total of 10 directors, of whom eight are independent directors.