Claire Chiang

Claire Chiang is the co-founder and senior vice president of Banyan Group, the global hospitality company she established with her husband Ho Kwon Ping in Phuket in 1994. The group, whose portfolio includes Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa and Laguna, marked the opening of its 100th property in 2025.

Chiang oversees Banyan Group’s China business development, chairs the Banyan Tree Global Foundation and leads Banyan Gallery, the group’s retail arm, which works with artisan communities around the world, creating sustainable livelihoods while helping preserve local crafts and culture.

Chiang’s commitment to using business as a force for social change has also shaped her work on women’s advancement. Within Banyan Group, she founded Women of the World, an internal leadership initiative that gives female employees opportunities to build confidence and professional skills. She also chairs the Shirin Fozdar Programme at Singapore Management University, named after the pioneering feminist activist who profoundly influenced Chiang’s own approach to women’s empowerment.

Chiang has played a prominent role in Singapore’s civic and public life. She was among the first two women admitted to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1995 and served as a Nominated Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2001, where she advocated on issues including women’s rights and the welfare of domestic workers. She is also an inductee of the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame.

In 2026, Chiang was recognised with the Tatler Front & Female Business Leader Award for her longstanding contribution to business, women’s advancement and community development. Her approach to leadership is rooted in the belief that businesses should leave the communities and environments in which they operate better than they found them.