Pedal on passion: Richard Eu, Mervin Wee and Juliana Chan steer Singapore’s spirit forward with the BMW i7 Singapore Icons

Stewarding legacy

If Singapore’s story is one of transformation, Richard Eu is one of its most enduring narrators. As chairman of Eu Yan Sang, he represents the fourth generation of the 146-year-old family business. Over the years, Eu’s leadership has always looked forward, leading the charge in the evolution of wellness that is defined very differently from when the company first started in traditional Chinese medicine. 

“We’ve been in Singapore since 1910,” he reflects. “But we weren’t just selling herbs. We were also helping the unbanked send money back to China. It was about serving the community with what they needed at the time.”

That same intuition—staying relevant while staying rooted—has defined the company’s modern chapter. Under Eu’s watch, Eu Yan Sang expanded from a local herbal remedies business to an international wellness brand. “Today’s consumers want more than tradition,” he says. “They want scientific validation, so we put the science behind the products, then developed more options to reach a wider, younger and more discerning consumer base.”

Even in a non-executive role, Eu remains involved. “I’m there when needed—sometimes to dredge up corporate memory, sometimes to brainstorm new ideas and strategies, but always to ensure our values stay intact. Our name stands for ‘caring for mankind’—that won’t change.”

Much like Singapore itself, Eu believes institutions must evolve or risk becoming irrelevant. “You build something that lasts not by holding on, but by holding true—to your mission, your values, your purpose.”

A language of self-expression

A walk into any Jean Yip salon today feels polished, professional, familiar. But its roots are anything but conventional. When Mervin Wee began cutting hair, it was his then-girlfriend Jean Yip—now wife and co-founder—who first taught him the ropes. They followed their artistic instincts to London, trained under top stylists, and brought those techniques home to reimagine beauty for Asian facial structures, hair textures and a growing appetite for stylish cuts.

“I wasn’t academic,” he admits. “But I was creative. Hair made sense to me—it’s all about art and identity.”

Together, Wee and his wife Jean Yip grew their single outlet into a multi-brand beauty empire. Through the decades, they’ve helped Singaporeans not only with self-expression and confidence through personal style, but have also trained generations of stylists to see the person before the hair. There is a special bond between a client and their go-to hairstylist, and the way their business burgeoned is a clear reflection of their people-centric approach to entrepreneurship. 

“Beauty isn’t just skin deep—it’s emotional,” he says. “Our job is to enhance how someone feels about themselves.”

Now at 66, Wee still works the floor and continuously learns from the new generation. “From grandmothers to granddaughters, I cut for all generations. I listen to their stories, and I evolve through life with them.”

He describes his creative process—whether designing a hairstyle or choosing a car for life’s journeys—as intuitive. “It has to feel right. That’s why I’ve driven so many BMWs over the years,” he laughs. “My first was a three-wheeler. Jean thought it was strange, but I loved it—it was bold and never failed to stand out.”

For Wee, the balance of form and function is everything. “Whether it’s a hairstyle or a sedan, aesthetics and performance should always go hand-in-hand, and is an extension of one’s personal style.”

Rewriting leadership

Not every scientist becomes a branding coach. But Dr Juliana Chan is not a conventional thinker. A biologist by training, she earned a first-class degree from Cambridge and a PhD from MIT under Bob Langer, co-founder of Moderna. With four US patents under her belt, her research in nanomedicine was cutting-edge—but so was her next move.

After years of leading a lab, two babies, and little sleep, Chan left academia to build something on her own terms. “I hit a point where I knew I couldn’t keep going like that,” she recalls. “So I bet on myself.”

Today, she is the founder of Wildtype Media Group, a science media company, and the creator of “Find Your Superpower,” a community and coaching network helping professionals elevate their voice and value.

“In the age of AI, your human story is your biggest asset,” she says. “We can’t compete on facts or data—but we can on connections.”

Chan sees reinvention not as a pivot, but as a progression. “You don’t have to abandon your past to evolve. You just have to keep rising.”

When she first saw the BMW i7 Singapore Icons, it resonated immediately. “It’s one-of-a-kind, personal, and meaningful. That’s branding done right. And that’s what the next era demands—precision, empathy, identity.”

State of motion

If people are the heartbeat of a nation, the BMW i7 Singapore Icons is its pulse made visible. A true one-of-one, this fully electric flagship sedan was created as a tribute to Singapore’s 60th anniversary, as well as BMW Asia’s 40-year journey in the region.

“Planning this masterpiece took 18 months,” said Lars Nielsen, managing director of BMW Group Asia. “It’s a celebration of icons, designed to be an icon itself.”

Everything about the i7 Singapore Icons is considered—beginning with its Madeira Red finish, a rich, multi-layered metallic hue, made available through BMW Individual. Under normal light, it evokes deep cherry wine; in the sun, its pearlescent flakes shimmer with quiet confidence. No other vehicle in Singapore bears this colour.

Inside, the Smoke White Merino leather upholstery reflects the red-and-white of the national flag, while Alaska Grey embroidery of the Singapore Icons motif on each headrest adds an understated sense of identity. The dashboard inlay—crafted from a single laser-cut metal piece thinner than 1mm—features seven of Singapore’s iconic landmarks: Changi Control Tower, Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove, the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, Anderson Bridge, the Merlion, and the ArtScience Museum. Together, they form a story of the city—etched in steel, framed in wood, and polished to a mirror finish.

On the outside, the Singapore Icons signet is subtly laser-etched onto the Hofmeister kink, a classic BMW design element. The 21-inch wheels complete the look with their intricate diamond-cut finish—a technical feat that echoes the level of artistry throughout the car.

It is a machine, yes. But more than that, it is a meditation on motion, meaning and national pride.

Creative visions

The BMW i7 Singapore Icons is more than a vehicle—it is an homage. It commemorates not only Singapore’s past and BMW’s journey in Asia, but also the shared stories that fuel both: innovation, craft, heritage, and forward vision.

Its sole owner, Choo Wai Luen, embodies this connection. As the fifth-generation steward of Kwong Cheong Thye Pte. Ltd., a family business celebrating its own 133rd anniversary, he saw in the i7 Singapore Icons a reflection of his legacy. “Every time I look at this masterpiece,” Choo says, “I’m reminded of how far we have come—as a family and as a nation.”

For a country built on reinvention, and for a company whose name is synonymous with performance and precision, the exclusive creation becomes more than an object—it becomes an emblem of how far we’ve come—and how far we can go.

Because in Singapore, drive isn’t just about speed. It’s about vision, always moving forward.

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