Robert Kuok's daughter made Shangri-La CEO: Nepo baby or product of hardcore biz grooming?

Focus Malaysia

5 days ago

SILVER Spoons or a position earned though merit from years of hard work and plenty of business acumen?
Online comments were divided when reacting to news of that Kuok Hui Kwong, daughter of tycoon Robert Kuok, was appointed chief executive of Shangri-La Asia, beginning next month.
As shared by BFMNews (@NewsBFM) on X, the 50-year-old will pocket RM312,000 salary along with other perks and benefits, while remining chairman of the hotel group.
Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong will become the chief executive of Shangri-La Asia on Aug 1, while continuing as chairman.
According to the Straits Times, Hui Kwong, 47, will earn a monthly base salary of RM312,000, along with discretionary bonuses & pension benefits.
🧵1 pic.twitter.com/mZqj5GGRGq
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) July 16, 2025
However, any doubts about Hui Kwong's ability in the hospitality industry were quashed with the news report also highlighting she been with the company for nearly a decade as an executive director in June 2016 before becoming chairman in 2017.
Basically, it is just business as usual with Shangri-La Asia justifying that 'combining the roles of chairman and chief executive under her leadership will improve strategic cohesion and execution across all levels'.
With direct stakes in the company amounting to a 2.7% share of Shang-La Asia, there is added incentive. She takes over from former CEO Lim Beng Chee who retired three years ago but remains on the board as non-executive director.
There were, of course, short-sighted comments about this is the result of being the scion of the Kuok dynasty.
On the flip side, there were those who contended that she deserved it having served the company since 2016. It was also highlighted the company was not in the red and provided good services, thus further justifying Hui Kwong's stewardship of the brand.
Another commenter highlighted that her RM312,000 salary was a drop in the ocean for a thriving family business.
This was unlike 'the Sapura CEOs' who paid themselves close to RM1 mil per month, it was claimed. This is despite the oil & gas (O&G) outfit's haemorrhaging losses.
Editor's note: Sapura Energy Bhd had made headlines for paying extremely high salaries to its top executives when the company was a loss-making entity.
This commenter was quickly shut down for bringing race into the equation.
But a few did agree that he was right in pointing out that other organisations that weren't doing so well were paying their top executives rather handsomely with government-linked companies (GLCs) singled out for special mention.
Pos Malaysia Bhd posted losses of RM202.7 mil last year for the sixth consecutive time yet reportedly paid its CEO Charles Brewer triple of what Hui Kwong earns, claimed one commenter.
Others just applauded Hui Kwong for being a strong female business role model.
One commenter wondered why so many sour grape comments. It's after all family-owned business with legacy shares not public funds that some use and abuse.
Of course, the salary may seem gargantuan to many people. But another commenter wondered aloud why is she even working at all given her family are super rich? She could very well be doing nothing, couldn't she?
One commenter simply praised Hui Kwong for her hard work.
Silver spoon or not, the hospitality field is a cut-throat industry and Hui Kwong has proved her mettle having steered the company for nearly a decade, most pertinently through the pandemic. One commenter simply congratulated her on the appointment.
But the cheekiest comment perhaps summed up what the elderly tycoon may have thought of everyone else's opinions. – July 18, 2025