CEO Interviews

Boulevard sits down, exclusively, with the prestige brand and design leaders shaping the world of luxury.

— Featured in Boulevard Magazine —

Interview

The interview: Yohei Akao, founder of interior design firm Strickland, on his transformation of the Grand Hyatt Singapore

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

Strickland founder and designer director Yohei Akao talks us through his meticulous transformation of the Grand Hyatt Singapore, bringing together nature, city and brand heritage in the iconic Orchard hotel.

Atelier tour: The wondrous house of luxury furniture maison Christopher Guy

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

The historic port-city of Semarang in Central Java, Indonesia, is not without its charms, but neither is it the obvious setting for an unabashedly opulent furniture house. It’s a distance, certainly, from the design capitals and storied ateliers of similarly positioned brands, but it’s close to Java’s mahogany plantations and, as such, the region has a heritage of craftsmanship and no shortage of artisans.

Interview

The interview: Prof. Andrea Maier antagonises ageing at Chi Longevity clinic

Far from the sensationalism of stem cells and gene editing, ice baths and transfusions, the cutting edge of longevity is increasingly a question of data: your personal biological clock – and how to wind it back. Gerontologist and total medicine specialist Professor Andrea Maier has opened a new clinic, Chi Longevity, to discover who you really are, and how to antagonise your ageing process.

Interview

The interview: Sonu Shivdasani, co-founder of Soneva resorts, on buying into paradise

Hamish McDougall

Pioneering hotelier and co-founder of Soneva, Sonu Shivdasani, launched the brand’s first resort with a view to having a residence in the Maldives. Now, many of his guests do too.

Interview

The interview: David Tsang, CEO of Pontiac Land Group

Hamish McDougall

“We do have conversations about, you know, whether the Ju Ming is in the way of kids playing soccer,” says David Tsang, CEO of Pontiac Land Group, in reference to the Taiwanese artist’s imposing Taichi sculpture taking pride of place on the lawn at The Colonnade condo in Orchard. It’s not a problem many developers would spend time chewing over, but PLG is not your average developer.

The interview: Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of Dusit International, on the launch of their flagship Bangkok hotel and residences

Hamish McDougall

A first look at the flagship branded residences by Dusit International, which will redefine the hotel group’s landmark site in the heart of Bangkok.

Interview

The interview: K. P. Ho, founder of Banyan Tree Group, on three decades of luxury hospitality

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

Banyan Tree Group founder K.P. Ho talks us through three decades of differentiated luxury hospitality, the bright future of branded residences, and crashing drones into his latest prestige developments.

Interview

The interview: John Innes, CEO at Pariter, on the transformation and revival of Heathcote Hall

Bryle B. Suralta

Built in 1887 and added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999, Heathcote Hall is one of Sutherland Shire's most famous residences. And tasked with its restoration was investment firm Pariter, which specialises in the development and operation of community infrastructure. In compliance with the building's Heritage Conservation Management Plan, the developer worked closely with Heritage Architect Tasman Storey to ensure that each detail maintained its turn-of-the-century character.

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— Latest CEO Interviews Features —

Interview

The interview: Stefano de Vivo, managing director of Wally Yachts

Hamish McDougall

The wallywhy200 superyacht rears up in the historic vieux port of Saint-Tropez, broad, angular and brooding in its black carbon-fibre and metallics that glint in the sun and catch the eye amidst the more conventional power yachts and sailing boats, the pastels and the cobblestones of the picturesque harbour. Drippingly chic with its teak beach-platform and elegantly arrayed daybeds framed by sharp, linear rails and mirrored black ceilings, the superyacht is almost out of place in this hedonistic Riviera hotspot, as if it belonged on set serving as a Bond villain’s pleasure barge, or in some noir future world given over to unabashed luxury and devastating design.

Interview

Home tour: Aesthete Amanda Love’s home shows deep curatorial consideration

Elizabeth Reidy
Photography by Leonidas Matis

Aesthete and cultural connoisseur Amanda Love possesses a passion, vision and an inner circle that elevate her long-standing independent art advisory business, LoveArt, from expertise to art-world icon. Over 20 years of sourcing exceptional contemporary art across the globe and advising the sharpest private collectors and corporations, LoveArt has developed some of the most covetable collections in the world. You can only imagine what her personal collection and private haven are like. Until now.

Interview

The interview: Dennis Ouyang, founder of Loy Gallery, on ‘A Trail to Chase’

Hamish McDougall

Transcending the usual gallery experience, Loy Gallery bridges the gap between multi-disciplinary art communities not just in Singapore but also all over the world. Its latest exhibition, 'A Trail to Chase', is no different, showcasing the intersect between art and design. Here, founder Dennis Ouyang talks us through the inspiration behind the gallery and its latest show, collecting art and more.

Interview

The interview: Leading Singapore architect Rene Tan of RT+Q

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

“The last thing I turn to for inspiration is architecture,” says Rene Tan. “I turn to music, or to football. If I hadn’t been an architect, I’d be a football historian. Football has taught me a lot of things – organising a team, organising space. There is an approach to football that emphasises what you do when you don’t have the ball – rather than what you do when you do have the ball. To mark space, to occupy and manage the space.”

Interview

The interview: Eric Martel, CEO, Bombardier

Christian Barker
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

The CEO of Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, Eric Martel says saving time is the ultimate luxury.

Interview

The interview: Leny Suparman, co-founder and CEO of KOP Group, on the evolving luxury property market

Hamish McDougall

Leny Suparman, co-founder and CEO of KOP Group, the developer behind The Ritz-Carlton Residences and Hamilton Scotts, talks through the changing demands of the luxury property market – and changing a project, midway through construction, to keep up with it.

The interview: Kathrin Mutinelli, MD of Seventy-Two Global

Hamish McDougall

“The oldest family office in the world goes back over 19 generations. It’s the family behind Kikkoman – the soy sauce – and they’re going strong. There are no feuds, no scandals to read about in the papers. The family has lived by a carefully considered creed for hundreds of years,” says Kathrin Mutinelli, MD of Seventy-Two Global. “By contrast, because Australia is such a young nation, you don’t have those three, four, five generations of wealth. But it’s starting to take place as Australia enters a period of inter-generational wealth transfer. More and more families are starting to think about what to do with their money, how to preserve what they have built, and how to transfer it to the next generation.”

The interview: Lex Pedersen, Co-Founder of Chrome Temple

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Gabi Maksdi

A nondescript warehouse in Sydney’s Northern Beaches is not the likeliest HQ for a flashy new investment fund – and gives away few clues as to the riches within. Inside, it’s a different story: row after row of high-gloss, high-octane supercars fill the space, some on full display; most, tantalisingly hooded and double-stacked. It’s just one of three sites housing the luxury auto assets in Chrome Temple’s growing portfolio.

Partners in time: Maximilian Büsser on the collaborations behind MB&F’s legendary timepieces

Christian Barker

'MB&F' stands for 'Maximilian Büsser and Friends'. Since its inception in 2005, from the moment the business name was registered, this watchmaker and purveyor of mechanical art objects has had collaboration at its core. Essentially, it’s a vehicle for founder Büsser to partner with individuals possessing specialised skills, in order to make innovative horological concepts and out-there inventions a reality.

The first-ever owner of the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition has the ultimate voyage in mind

Jamie Nonis

Fancy a helicopter with sex appeal? Look no further than the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, says high-flying Australian techpreneur Jean-Paul Thorbjornsen, who was the first in the world to own one.

The interview: Tetsuya Wakuda, acclaimed chef and owner of Tetsuya’s, on cultivating timeless taste

Christian Barker

Today, like most Sydney suburbs within easy reach of the CBD and harbour, Rozelle has been thoroughly gentrified. Back in late ’80s, however, this inner-west enclave — considered since the early 20th Century to be one of the state’s most underprivileged, polluted areas — maintained a steely grip on its original unvarnished industrial character.

The interview: The Macallan whisky maker Steven Bremner on curating the right expression for the Harmony III

Bryle B. Sulatra

The Macallan's fabled Harmony Collection is a celebration of creative force. Harmony I brought together the worlds of chocolate and whisky with some help from the Roca brothers. Meanwhile, Harmony II drew from five coffee experts, creating two whiskies with a distinct coffee flavour.

Start-up Your Engines: Patrick Grove

One of Southeast Asia’s most respected start-up entrepreneurs and investors, Patrick Grove is best known for his involvement in a string of highly successful online businesses. So when this IPO panjandrum recently revealed that he’d acquired ultra-luxe Formula 1 afterparty organisation, Amber Lounge, it came as a bit of a surprise. Why the abrupt switch from mega-exit digital dealings, to decadent dance-all-night debauchery?

Interview

Architology’s collaboration with Tappeti rugs takes centre stage at a revamped maisonette in Seascape, Sentosa

Hamish McDougall
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

Tappeti CEO Karinna Gobbo and Architology co-founder Terrence Quah talk us through their collaboration on a glamorous line of custom rugs, and the transformation of a newly refurbished duplex in the waterfront Sentosa condo, Seascape.

Interview

The interview: Thomas Duroux, CEO, Château Palmer

Christian Barker

Producing and marketing fine wine requires a particular set of skills, blending science and agriculture, sober business savvy and Dionysian artistry. It follows that it takes certain special qualities to be the CEO of a winemaker – especially a winemaker as esteemed as Château Palmer.

Design tour

Behind the interior design of a glamorous South Beach Residences retreat

Singapore-based interior designer Elliot James Barratt gives Boulevard the inside story on a sophisticated sanctuary in South Beach Residences, complete with whiskey library and covetable walk-in wardrobe for two serious collectors.

Interview

67 Pall Mall: The exclusive members’ club with a wine problem

Singapore’s sublime new members’ club began in London, when founder and former banker Grant Ashton found himself with a wine problem. The dilemma was an overabundance of fine wines in his collection – and a desire to share it.

Interview

The interview: Robyn Saranah, general manager of Commonwealth Private

Hamish McDougall

The modern headquarters of Commonwealth Bank is, on entering, an airy, atrium-like affair that feels less like the lair of a financial Goliath and more like a chic Scandinavian convention centre, with its second-floor concierge and huddles of event attendees, its sprawling array of meeting and luncheon and entertainment spaces serviced by in-house caterers and a phalanx of directional staff, its profusions of glass and greenery and sustainably sourced native woods, not to mention its long corridors of important Australian art pieces.

Interview

The art of time: Bovet 1822 owner Pascal Raffy talks us through the brand’s hand-painted dials

When you've mastered the full suite of mechanical complications – including an extraordinary phases of the moon dial complete with orbiting satellite – where to next? For Bovet 1822, it was a step back from engineering, and into art.

Interview

De Bethune CEO Pierre Jacques talks about master watchmaker Denis Flageollet

Christian Barker

De Bethune is among the most innovative watchmakers in operation today. So it seems apt to ask the company’s CEO, Pierre Jacques, how he drives his team to remain inventive and inspired. Jacques deflects all praise in this regard to his partner in the business, De Bethune cofounder and master watchmaker, Denis Flageollet.

Interview

New horizons for renowned Nihi Resorts

The past few years have been difficult for the hospitality industry, to say the least. But for the proprietors of Nihi, an ultra-luxury surf resort on the Indonesian island of Sumba, one hour’s flight east of Bali, there’s been a silver lining to the restrictions on international travel.

Interview

The interview: Kristian Tear, CEO, Bang & Olufsen

Christian Barker
Photography by Jin Cheng Wong

One of the key responsibilities of a CEO is keeping their team motivated, engaged and inspired. The inspiration element is especially important at a brand like Bang & Olufsen, which is both a producer of state-of-the-art electronic equipment, and a company that makes beautifully designed, handcrafted objects. Boasting nearly 100 years of tradition, this is a business which, nevertheless, existentially depends upon remaining on the technological cutting edge.

Interview

The interview: Esin Güral Argat, CEO of Joali

Christian Barker

Esin Güral Argat is the vice-president of the board at the Gürok Group, the Turkish conglomerate founded in 1948 and run by her family ever since. The company has interests in packaging, real estate, mining, roof tiles and construction, among other concerns. Entering the family business in the 1990s, Güral Argat quickly seized the initiative to build a start-up of her own within the company, LAV. Today, it’s the world’s fifth-largest glassware manufacturer, producing some two million drinking receptacles per day, while employing more than 2,000 people at its offices and factories.

Interview

The interview: Jaelle Ang, CEO & Founder, The Great Room

Hamish McDougall

“My superpower is bringing great design to life,” says Jaelle Ang, founder and CEO of premium coworking space The Great Room. It may not compare to x-ray vision, but Ang’s design-led approach favouring considered space-making and value-creation over sheer scalability has proven almost heroically prescient in an industry famed (and shamed) for growth at any cost. And with the launch of the brand’s ninth space (and first shophouse), on South Bridge Road, with two more on the way, along with their acquisition in 2022 by Industrious, the scale is taking shape.

Interview

The interview: Daniel Goldberg, founder of State Of Craft, on his anthropological approach in designing timeless spaces

State Of Craft founder and designer Daniel Goldberg talks us through the timeless essence of design and what it means to create internal spaces, from an anthropological perspective, that caters to an individual's physical and emotional needs.

Interview

The interview: Tamara Grischy, general manager of Langtons, on the globalisation of Australian fine wine

Bryle B. Suralta

For more than three decades, Langtons Classification has served as the ultimate form guide for connoisseurs. It has found, recorded and predicted how demand, preferences and wine styles have ebbed and flowed over the years, as well as the emerging influence of Australian fine wines globally.

Every piece is a process: Brewin Design Office founder Bobby Cheng talks through his approach to truly bespoke design

Hamish McDougall

“Everything is customised, to some extent, whenever a designer works on anything,” says Bobby Cheng. “But for me, when pieces become one of a kind, and created for the context and purpose of one particular project, and when we labour through it as though it were a project in itself – at that point, I would dare say there is a bespoke nature or process.”

Interview

The interview: Christine Franck, head of colour, materials and trim design at Rolls-Royce, on the Cullinan Series II

Hamish McDougall

A phenom of an ultra-luxury SUV, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II has finally gotten a much-needed revamp. Seen in the new Cullinan are major changes to its interiors, technological and cosmetic innovations and of course a noticeably different fascia, among other new features.

The interview: Peter Ng, founder of Maduro, on music, whisky and cigars

Hamish McDougall

After spending 15 years as a professional – and highly regarded – jazz pianist both in Singapore and on the international circuit, Peter Ng eventually started and settled down into his core property business in London. It was only when he found himself looking for somewhere to smoke a cigar that he conceived of, and then opened Robusto – the first incarnation of Maduro. The now beloved jazz, whisky and cigar club recently relocated to the Sofitel hotel in Sentosa, where Boulevard caught up with Ng over a Montecristo…

The interview: Nicholas Rudaz, CEO of Franck Muller, on the making of New Novelties 2024

Bryle B. Suralta

Thinking about the Aeternitas Mega, one can't help but appreciate this masterclass in Franck Muller's technical prowess. It's only fitting that the most complicated watch in the world (built with a whopping 36 complications and 1,483 components) is made by the master of complications themselves. This piece encapsulates the brand's commitment to horological innovation. It's a philosophy that has defined its iconic collections since the introduction of the Cintrée Curve in 1987.

Interview

The interview: Dr. Jan Hendrik Voss, president of Ferrari Australasia, on the making of the Ferrari 12Cilindri

Bryle Suralta

The Ferrari 12Cilindri might well be the final frontier of the front-engined V12. Introduced earlier this year during the Marque's 77th anniversary, the Grand Tourer should be a fitting successor to the 812 or F12. It mostly enjoys a more futuristic character, albeit keeping retro motifs borrowed from the legendary GTs of the '50s and '60s. It can be described, after all, as a homage to the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.

Interview

The interview: Ben Smoker, general manager of Commonwealth Private, on the state of the Australian market

Bryle B. Suralta

The general manager for private wealth at Commonwealth Private talks us through the historic transfer of wealth taking place against the backdrop of volatility.

The interview: Dr. Jan Hendrik Voss, president of Ferrari Australasia, on crafting a groundbreaking new insurance product

Bryle B. Sulatra

One common dilemma among supercar owners is that the higher the value the cars are, the more customised their insurance policies are. If a vehicle like Ferrari is peerless in its prestige, then so should its insurance be, after all. Ferrari Australasia recently addressed the need for such by introducing a first-of-its-kind service: its own insurance product.

Interview

The interview: Magnus Renfrew, co-founder of Art SG, on the state of the art show

by Hamish McDougall
photography by Jin Cheng Wong

Co-founder of Art SG, Magnus Renfrew talks us through the rising regional art market, the growing global interest in Southeast Asian talents, and the next generation of collectors.

The interview: Rosi Fernandez, managing director of La Prairie ANZ, on International Women’s Day

Bryle B. Sulatra

The workforce today is a far cry from the one Rosi Fernandez, managing director of La Prairie ANZ, entered some 25 years ago. “When I had my son, the workplace was not engineered to support working mothers. Juggling career and motherhood was challenging, to say the least,” she says. “I feel proud to see that this new generation of women is more assertive and comfortable.”

La Prairie celebrates International Women’s Day at curator Amanda Love’s art-filled home

On International Women's Day, Boulevard had the privilege of co-hosting an exclusive luncheon at the private residence of independent art advisor and advocate Amanda Love. Esteemed clients were treated to a bespoke luncheon, as well as an intimate art tour of love's personal collection.

Interview

The interview: Wade Pearce, founder, Singapore International Yachting Festival

BOULEVARD: Congratulations on the launch! It must be a thrill to see so many people out here – and a welcome sign of the growing interest in yachting coming out of Singapore.

The interview: Sacha Leong describes his approach to restaurant projects

In his hometown of Singapore, Sacha Leong is best known for his design work on two of this city’s most acclaimed restaurants: chef Julien Royer’s Odette and Claudine. That’s perfectly fine with Leong. While Nice Projects, the London-based studio he operates in partnership with Australian Simone McEwan, has worked on a wide variety of projects, including coworking and coliving spaces, luxury residential and retail, “Hospitality is our passion,” Leong says.

CEO Profile: Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Whatever it costs, it’s not a problem, as long as it’s something very special,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and without doubt one of the foremost names in luxury, in savoir vivre, in how to spend it. Müller-Ötvös is holding court in his Presidential Suite at Raffles, Singapore, ensconced in a private high tea and referring to the demands of his clientele for ever more extraordinary, and more personal cars.

Luxe kicks: George Cleverley bespoke sneakers

Following several years of painstaking R&D, top British luxury shoemaker George Cleverley recently launched its first sneaker. With classic, minimalist lines, these handmade luxury ‘kicks’ are available for bespoke orders in an array of exotic hides — from crocodile to ostrich, lizard to kudu — plus a rainbow of colours.

The interview: Jonathan Crockett, chairman of auctioneers Phillips Asia

Christian Barker

Normally, the chairman of a company will oversee the board of directors, help decide on key C-suite appointments, and at regular intervals, check up on a CEO to ensure a company is running smoothly and is financially healthy. Generally, the chairman is not a day-to day role, and the chair won’t be involved in the ‘nuts and bolts’ of daily business operations.

The interview: Top Australian menswear designer Patrick Johnson

Christian Barker
Photography by Leonidas Matis

Think ‘classic men’s outfitter’ and immediately, your mind will dance with visions of chestnut leather Chesterfields, dark wood panelling, oil paintings of horses, tartan-upholstered cushions and rich mahogany shelves lined with leatherbound books. What you’re picturing is an old-school Savile Row tailor’s premises — or more probably, Ralph Lauren’s sleek, romanticised remix.