Three directors quit CDL hotel unit: Who are they?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Their resignations come about a year after they were appointed in the midst of a family feud at CDL in 2025.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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 a family feud in 2025 that saw CDL executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng file 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 a 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
Ms Jennifer Duong Young was one of two new directors at the centre of the father-son feud in 2025.
PHOTO: CDL
Was one of the two new directors at the centre of the father-son feud in 2025
Spent 21 years at Credit Suisse
Holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Accountancy degree from Victoria University of Wellington
Was a former chartered accountant with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants
Mr Daniel Desbaillets
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 had allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board.
PHOTO: CDL
Part of the legal battle in 2025 when Mr Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, saying Mr Sherman Kwek had allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board
Has 46 years of experience in the hospitality industry
Since 1973, he has been holding senior positions at international hotel chains including InterContinental Hotel Group, Hilton, Shangri-La, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Group, and Fullerton Hotels and Resorts
He is also executive chairman of family-owned businesses in the food and beverage industry, including brands like Salad Stop
Holds a diploma in commercial studies from Ecole Benedict Geneva in Switzerland
Mrs Wong Ai Ai
Mrs Wong Ai Ai spent three decades with law firm Baker McKenzie.
PHOTO: CDL
Part of the legal battle in 2025 when Mr Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, saying Mr Sherman Kwek had allegedly sought to consolidate control of the board
Spent three decades with law firm Baker McKenzie
Was the principal in Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow till 2023
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
Holds a Master of Law from Harvard Law School
Who remains on the board of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels?
Mr Kwek Leng Beng
Mr Kwek Eik Sheng, nephew of Mr Kwek Leng Beng and CDL group chief operating officer
Mr Jonathon Mackenzie Grech, who was a director at other hotel companies in Britain
Mr Alexander Richard Jason Wade, founding partner of London-based investment firm Knightsbridge Wealth
Ms Caroline Besson Frankel, French director residing in Britain
Mr Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, an experienced business leader in real estate and finance.
