Softlogic taps global expertise; announces key new appointments

The Softlogic Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, has announced the appointments of Kong Leong Chan as Adviser to Chairman Ashok Pathirage, Terry O’Connor OBE as Chief Executive Officer of Odel PLC and Strategic Adviser to Chairman on Retail Sector, and Sid Solanki as Chief Executive Officer – Leisure Sector and Group Asset Management.

Kong Leong Chan is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of hands-on experience driving performance and transformation across large-scale operations, diverse teams, and complex markets. His proven track record spans multiple industries and geographies, consistently delivering substantial shareholder value through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and innovation.

As Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Shangri-La Group, Kong Leong oversaw a $ 1.5 billion business across 32 cities in 21 countries. During the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrated entrepreneurial agility and deep cross-functional expertise across F&B, marketing, HR, sales, product development, technology, and operations, empowering his teams to pivot swiftly and emerge more resilient.

Previously, as CEO of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), he led the successful turnaround of Suntec City Mall, which achieved the highest footfall and tenant sales growth among listed REITs. Equity analysts credited him as the “catalyst for change and improvement.” Under his leadership, Suntec REIT’s unit price reached an all-time high of $ 2.25 – a record that remains unsurpassed. He concurrently served as Group Chief Digital Officer of ARA Group, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide digital transformation, driving innovation and adoption across business units.

At CapitaLand, Kong Leong held both operational and strategic leadership roles. As Regional General Manager for West China, he led the firm’s largest China-based investment, managing a portfolio of retail, office, and hospitality assets. Key milestones under his leadership include the successful opening of several large-scale developments, such as the 0.8 million sq. ft. Raffles City Chengdu, 1.1 million sq. ft. CapitaMall Jinniu Phase 2, 0.65 million sq. ft. CapitaMall Meilicheng Phase 2, and the 2.1 million sq. ft. CapitaMall Tianfu integrated development.

Kong Leong holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and graduated with First Class Honours in Building from the National University of Singapore, where he received multiple academic awards. He is a Senior Accredited Director with the Singapore Institute of Directors.

Terry O’Connor OBE is a seasoned CEO with a successful track record in leading major retail operations in Southeast Asia. Starting his career in various buying roles with Colorvision PLC, he helped the chain grow from 12 to 92 stores.

His tenure at Courts PLC saw him leading a significant expansion into the electrical retail market in Singapore and launching the brand’s retail IT business. After the demise of the parent company, he led a private equity partnered buyout of Courts’ Asian operations, later facilitating a change in ownership to Nojima Corporation. Under his leadership, Courts became a leading retailer with over 70 stores in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, known for its unique consumer credit skill set and omni-channel presence.

As CEO of Matahari Department Stores, O’Connor transformed the brand, its merchandise ranges, and digital capabilities, successfully navigating the challenges of COVID-19 and fostering a progressive, people-first culture.

Sid Solanki is a seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership experience across premier hospitality and retail brands in Asia. Currently serving as CEO – Leisure and Group Asset Head at Softlogic Group, Sri Lanka, he oversees operations spanning its malls/outlets and its hotels, namely NH Colombo and Bentota.

Previously, as Centre Director at One Galle Face (Shangri-La), Sri Lanka’s largest integrated development, Solanki led the strategic repositioning of high-end commercial offices and luxury residences and tenant mix optimisation of the mall, earning national recognition for excellence in retail.

His earlier roles include Director of Sales and Marketing at Shangri-La Yangon and EAM – Sales and Marketing at Hilton Seoul, all mixed-use development projects.

Solanki holds an MBA in Marketing, Bachelor of Accounting, and has completed executive programs from Cornell. His career reflects a strong track record in driving commercial performance, brand elevation, and asset value across diverse markets across Asia.

The introduction of the high-powered senior appointments signals Softlogic’s aggressive pursuit to revamp its retail sector and proactive approach to refining its retail management processes and operation of the Odel Mall, focusing on strategic planning that aligns with broader industry trends thereon to optimise the value of the Group’s assets, its brand and its strength in the partnerships, and unlock new revenue generation opportunities and markets.

Their expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing Softlogic’s retail sector strategies, re-engineering synergies within the untapped potential of the Group, and to capitalise on it while also exploring broader applications within this rapidly growing segment of the market.