13 Feb 2007

Keppel Philippines Marine appoints Nelson Yeo as Chairman of its Board

Keppel Philippines Marine Inc (KPMI), a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and a subsidiary of Keppel Corporation Limited, has appointed Mr Nelson Yeo as Chairman with effect from today.

He has also been appointed Chairman of Subic Shipyard & Engineering Inc (SSEI), an associate of Keppel Corporation Limited.

Mr Yeo takes over the chairmanship of KPMI and SSEI from Mr Charles Foo, Managing Director (Special Projects) of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), who has also resigned as Director of both companies.

Mr Foo, 65, who is currently Chairman of Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd of Singapore and Keppel Nantong Shipyard, China, was appointed Chairman of KPMI and SSEI in November 1999.

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman of Keppel O&M, says, “Under Mr Foo’s stewardship, Keppel Philippines has grown in strength. He guided KPMI to re-start its shipbuilding business and supported the Philippine yards in entering the offshore rig construction business to collaborate with Keppel FELS in its activities.”

The Keppel Philippine yards have in recent years been enhanced with added facilities to support offshore activities, particularly, in the construction of semisubmersibles.

Amongst his many contributions, Mr Foo has been credited for raising the safety standard of the yards, encouraging the upgrading and development of safety personnel including sending them to Singapore for further training.

Mr Choo said, “Looking ahead, demand for offshore floating production units and offshore support vessels will be sustained. Keppel Philippine yards are poised to take on more offshore support work in the form of repair and upgrading services, in addition to what it currently is already doing. However in view of increased competition from existing and new yards in China and Vietnam, Keppel Philippines have to remain highly competitive.

”I am confident that Mr Yeo, with the support of Mr Toh Ko Lin, the President of Keppel Philippines Marine and the rest of the team, will take the Keppel Philippines yards to new heights.”

Mr Yeo, 50, is the Executive Director of Keppel Shipyard Limited. He began his career with Keppel Shipyard in 1982 when he was a Shiprepair Management Trainee. He rose through the ranks to become Shiprepair Manager, Business Development Manager of Keppel (UK) Ltd, General Manager of Wing Yong Engineering, Yard Manager/Pioneer Yard and in 1994, became President/General Manager of Subic Shipyard and Engineering Inc. In March 1996, Mr Yeo returned to Singapore and was appointed Executive Director of Keppel Shipyard where he still helms.

Mr Yeo received various commendations during his tenure in the Philippines. He was conferred both The Adopted Son of Municipality of Castillejos and the Municipality of Subic, Province of Zambales, Republic of the Philippines, for his invaluable and relentless support as a partner in the socio-economic development of the Municipalities.

Mr Yeo holds a First Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Birmingham and a Master of Engineering in Energy Technology from The Asian Institute of Technology, under the Shell International Petroleum Company Scholarship.

A multi-business corporation listed on the Singapore Exchange, Keppel Corporation Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), is a global leader in offshore rigs and ship conversion and repair as well as a specialised shipbuilder, with network of 17 yards in the Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Caspian Sea, Middle East and the North Sea regions. Integrating the experience and expertise of its yards worldwide, Keppel O&M aims to be a provider of choice and a partner in solutions for the offshore and marine industry.


For more information, please contact:

Ms Sarah Seah
Deputy General Manager
Group Corporate Communications
Keppel Corporation Limited
Tel : +65 6413 6420
Email : sarah.seah@kepcorp.com

Attachments:

Mr Charles Foo

Mr Nelson Yeo