Ng Kok Song Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Ex-wife, Kids, Parents, Education, Age & More

Ng Kok Song is a 75-year-old man who has announced his intention to run for the Singapore presidency in 2023. He is best known for his previous role as the chief investment officer of GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, where he oversaw the management of the nation’s foreign exchange reserves for more than four decades.

He is also the co-founder and chairman of Avanda Investment Management, a private hedge fund that manages over US$10 billion in assets. Here is everything you need to know about Ng Kok Song, his life, his relationship with his fiancee Sybil Lau, and his future plans.

Net Worth

Ng Kok Song’s net worth is not publicly known, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He has accumulated his wealth from his salary and bonuses at GIC and MAS, his investments in various markets and asset classes, his stake in Avanda Investment Management, and his board positions in several other companies and organizations.

Ng worked at GIC for 42 years, managing investments for Singapore’s foreign reserves. He retired as the chief investment officer in February 2013. He was reportedly paid a salary of S$1.5 million (US$1.1 million) a year, plus a bonus that could range from 20 percent to 100 percent of his salary depending on the performance of GIC.

Kok Song also worked at MAS for 15 years, developing its capabilities in foreign exchange intervention, reserves management, and monetary policy formulation. He was the director of reserves management from 1981 to 1986. He was reportedly paid a salary of S$500,000 (US$370,000) a year, plus a bonus that could range from 10 percent to 50 percent of his salary depending on the performance of MAS.

Family/Siblings

He is the second child among 11 siblings and grew up in Kangkar, a fishing village in Sengkang, where he lived in a mud-floored attap house with his parents and siblings. His father was a fish auctioneer who struggled to make ends meet for the large family. Ng Kok Song helped his father at the fish market and looked after his younger brothers and sisters. He also faced the threat of gangsters who infested the area.

Ng Kok said that his father taught him the value of hard work, honesty, and perseverance. He said: “My father had only a few years of education but he was extremely good at arithmetic. He could tell the weight of a basket of fish just by lifting it, and calculate how much it cost almost instantly. I inherited that gift from him.

He also said that his mother was a loving and caring woman who nurtured him and his siblings. He said: “She was always there for us. She cooked for us, washed our clothes, and made sure we were healthy and happy.”

Kok Song has 10 siblings: six brothers and four sisters. Their names are not publicly known, but they are all successful professionals in their own fields, such as finance, engineering, education, medicine, law, and social work.

Ng said that he is very proud of his siblings and their achievements. He said: “They are all very independent and responsible. They have their own careers and families. They are also very caring and supportive of me.”

Early Life and Education

Ng Kok Song was born on July 17, 1948, in Singapore. He grew up in Kangkar, a fishing village in Sengkang, where he lived in a mud-floored attap house with his parents and 10 siblings. His father was a fish auctioneer who struggled to make ends meet for the large family. He helped his father at the fish market and looked after his younger brothers and sisters. He also faced the threat of gangsters who infested the area.

Ng attended Montfort School, where he met his future wife Patricia. He excelled in his studies and received a Public Service Commission scholarship to study physics at the University of Singapore (now known as the National University of Singapore). He graduated with first-class honors in 1970 and went on to pursue a master’s degree in management at Stanford University in the United States.

Ng Kok Song WIKI/BIO

Career at GIC and MAS

Ng Kok joined GIC in 1986 as its first director of equities. He rose through the ranks and became its chief investment officer in 2007, a position he held until his retirement in 2013. He was responsible for overseeing the investment strategy and portfolio management of GIC, which manages over US$400 billion in assets for the Singapore government.

Ng Kok Song played a key role in building up Singapore’s reserves and enhancing its financial security and stability. He led GIC’s investments in various markets and asset classes, such as equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, and hedge funds. He also established GIC’s presence in major financial centres around the world, such as New York, London, Tokyo, Beijing, and Mumbai.

Before joining GIC, Ng worked at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the central bank and financial regulator of Singapore. He joined MAS in 1971 as an economist and later became its director of reserves management. He was instrumental in developing MAS’s capabilities in foreign exchange intervention, reserves management, and monetary policy formulation.

Career at Avanda Investment Management

After retiring from GIC in 2013, Ng Kok Song co-founded Avanda Investment Management in 2015 with four former colleagues from GIC: Quah Wee Ghee, Lim Chow Kiat, Ong Guat Cheng, and Chia Tai Tee. Avanda is a private hedge fund that focuses on global macro strategies and manages over US$10 billion in assets for institutional investors.

Ng serves as the chairman of Avanda and provides strategic direction and oversight for the fund. He also sits on the board of directors of several other companies and organisations, such as Temasek Holdings-linked investment platform 65 Entity Partners, Asia School of Business in Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, Pimco Global Advisory Board, Wealth Management Institute at NTU, and Stewardship Asia Centre.

Relationship with Sybil Lau

Ng Kok Song is engaged to Sybil Lau, a 45-year-old Singaporean who was born in Canada. She is a financial analyst who worked at Goldman Sachs for two years before managing her family’s wealth since 2009. She also sits on the board of directors of several companies and organisations, such as Ray Dalio’s family office in Singapore, SG Enable, WELL Health Technologies Corp., and The Delta.

Ng Song met Sybil Lau about four or five years ago through mutual friends. They fell in love despite their 30-year age gap and got engaged last year. They plan to get married soon after observing a three-year mourning period for Sybil Lau’s mother who passed away in 2021.

Sybil Lau supports Ng’s bid for the presidency and accompanied him to collect eligibility forms from the Elections Department on July 19. She said: “Kok Song is standing for President to serve the people of Singapore. Our family and I fully support him.”

Ex-Wife

Ng Kok Song married his schoolmate from Montfort School, Patricia, in 1972. They met when they were both 16 years old and fell in love. Patricia was a nurse who worked at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and later at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. She was a devoted wife and mother who supported Ng Song’s career and took care of their three children.

Patricia was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2004 and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. He said that he taught her how to meditate, which helped her cope with the pain and fear. He also said that he prayed with her every day and read her the Bible. He said: “She was very brave. She never complained.”

Patricia died in 2005 at the age of 53, leaving behind Ng Song and their three children. He said that he was devastated by her death and felt a deep sense of loss. He said: “She was my soulmate. We had a very close relationship. We shared everything.”

Children

Ng Kok Song and Patricia had three children: a son aged 50 and two daughters aged 47 and 33. Their names are not publicly known, but they are all successful professionals in their own fields.

Their son is a lawyer who works at a top law firm in Singapore. He is married and has two children of his own. He is also an avid golfer who plays with his father regularly.

Their elder daughter is a doctor who works at a public hospital in Singapore. She is married and has one child. She is also a music lover who plays the piano and sings.

Their younger daughter is an engineer who works at a multinational company in Singapore. She is single and lives with her father. She is also a fitness enthusiast who does yoga and pilates.

Ng Kok Song said that he is very proud of his children and their achievements. He said: “They are all very independent and responsible. They have their own careers and families. They are also very caring and supportive of me.”

Presidential Bid

Ng Kok Song announced his intention to run for the Singapore presidency on July 19, 2023. He is the third presidential hopeful to declare his interest, after Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and businessman George Goh. President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term expires on September 13 and she has said she will not stand for re-election.

Ng Song said he decided to run for the presidency because of three reasons: to give Singaporeans a choice, to safeguard the reserves, and to be independent. He said he wants to give Singaporeans the opportunity to choose their president, rather than face the possibility of a walkover. He said he has been building up Singapore’s reserves for 45 years at GIC and MAS and believes that the president has a critical role in protecting them. He also said he has never been affiliated with any political party and will uphold the dignity and impartiality of the office.

Ng Kok Song said he will submit his application forms to the Presidential Elections Committee soon and hopes to qualify as a candidate. He said he will campaign on the platform of serving the people of Singapore with integrity, wisdom, and compassion.

Physical Appearance: Height/Weight

Ng Kok Song is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs around 154 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a slim and fit body type. He likes to dress formally and professionally, often wearing suits, shirts, ties, or jackets. He also likes to accessorize with glasses, watches, or pins.

Trivia/Facts

• He loves music and plays the piano, the guitar, and the harmonica. He also sings and writes his own songs.
• Ng is a Christian who attends church regularly with his fiancee and children.
• He is a philanthropist who supports various charitable causes, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Musicians on Call.
• Ng is a meditation practitioner who taught founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew how to meditate in 2012.