Appointment of new Chief Executive, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

1          Mr Tan Kong Hwee (陈光辉) will be appointed as the Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) from 1 March 2025. Before that, Kong Hwee will be appointed the Chief Executive (Designate) of IPOS from 10 February 2025. He will succeed Mrs Rena Lee, who will assume a full-time position in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as Singapore's Ambassador for International Law.   

Outgoing Chief Executive, Mrs Rena Lee

2          Mrs Rena Lee (陈惠菁), was appointed as Chief Executive of IPOS on 1 August 2020. During her term, she led her team to elevate Singapore’s position as a global intellectual property (IP) and intangible assets (IA) hub. Rena and her team drove the implementation of the Singapore IP Strategy (SIPS) 2030 to support enterprises and the wider innovation community, and strengthen Singapore’s attractiveness for IP and IA activities. She pushed significant legislative and policy reforms to the IP regime and continued efforts in international engagement with IP offices all over the world on issues relevant to the global IP ecosystem, including emerging issues relating to frontier technology like Artificial Intelligence. She also led Singapore’s delegations in treaty negotiations, contributing to the adoption of two new World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties. Under her leadership, Singapore maintained its position as the most innovative country in the South-East Asia, East Asia and Oceania region in the Global Innovation Index, and achieved its highest global ranking in a decade, ranking fourth globally. 

Incoming Chief Executive, Mr Tan Kong Hwee

3          Mr Tan Kong Hwee is a member of the Economic Development Board (EDB)’s Executive Committee, and the Executive Vice President (EVP) overseeing the Global Enterprises and Marketing Group, where he is responsible for efforts to brand and market Singapore as an international business location, and to facilitate business activities of enterprises with investment interests in Singapore. He also has responsibilities for the DesignSingapore Council and the Office for Space Technology and Industry.

4          Kong Hwee began his career in the public service with the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2002. He joined the EDB’s Infocomms and Media Division in 2006, and was subsequently posted to Japan and Europe. Under Kong Hwee’s leadership, EDB made significant strides pursuing new frontiers and investment projects for economic development in a wide range of sectors. He also led the management of relationships with top local and international companies in his capacity as EVP of EDB’s Accounts Group, prior to his current appointment. 

In Appreciation

5          Mr Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Law said, “We deeply appreciate Rena’s dedicated service and contributions to IPOS. Under her leadership, Singapore as a global innovation hub has grown steadily, and our intellectual property ecosystem has flourished. We are confident that Rena will continue contributing strongly in service to Singapore, and wish her success in her future roles. We also warmly welcome Kong Hwee to the Ministry of Law family, and look forward to his leading IPOS to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global intellectual property and intangible assets hub.”

6          Dr Stanley Lai SC, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPOS, said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors of IPOS, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Kong Hwee as he takes over the mantle from our outgoing Chief Executive, Rena Lee.  We look forward to working with him and the management of IPOS to take the mission and regulation of intellectual property to new heights, both nationally and internationally.  The Board wishes to thank Rena for her tireless service, and celebrate her many contributions to IPOS’ operations, programmes and people.  We wish her the very best in her new endeavours, including her candidacy for the International Court of Justice Bench.”

MINISTRY OF LAW
10 January 2025

Media Contact:

(Ms) Amelia Leong
Email: Amelia_Leong@mlaw.gov.sg