IOI Group CEO Dato' Lee Yeow Chor on leadership and his father's legacy

The group managing director and CEO of IOI Group and eldest son of the late Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, Dato' Lee Yeow Chor believes the legacy of his father will inspire others to chase their dreams

It’s often said that history is written by winners, which is somewhat the case for The Tree Whisperer: The Official Biography of Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, Founder of IOI Group. It’s a memoir on the grand patriarch and founder of local conglomerate IOI Group, who passed away in June 2019, translated by Michelle Tan Ching Wuen from the original text written in Mandarin by Angeline Lee Hoong Lian.

Definitely a winner in the realm of property and plantation business, the main contention would be that he didn’t get to produce the book himself—despite many urging him to do so. The book was commissioned by the family and took plenty of research and interviews to record the remarkable life of Tan Sri Lee. Speaking to family members, business associates and close friends on top of poring over newspaper clippings and other official documents, the book finally got published after around two and a half years.

Above Photo: IOI Group

"My father was just too busy to find the time to pen his thoughts,” shares Dato’ Lee Yeow Chor, a qualified lawyer and Tan Sri Lee’s eldest son among six siblings, and who is the group managing director and chief executive of IOI Corporation Berhad.

"Some of my fondest memories about my father were those times when he would bring me along for business meetings and site visits while I was in primary school,” recalls Dato’ Lee, who officially joined the business back in 1994. "I’ll cherish those moments we spent together. He cultivated my interest in the plantations and property sectors and has both directly and indirectly shaped me into the business leader that I am today.”

Above Photo: Courtesy of Mentor Publishing

One might wonder, why the book is entitled as such. According to some records, it was stated that Tan Sri Lee was known as the tree whisperer, due to the fact that he spoke and even sang to the trees—saying that it would help the trees grow and flourish. Quite an apt nickname for one who grew up in a rubber estate, and then went on to run plantations.

He was also a people person, and knew how to form connections with those around him; he even picked up some Tamil to converse with estate workers. The Tree Whisperer is also a refreshing read, as while most entrepreneurs typically come from money, it’s inspirational to know Tan Sri Lee’s story. He grew up with nine siblings, and had to stop schooling at age 11 to take on a full-time job selling ice cream to make money.

Above Dato' Lee in 2018 speaking at a palm oil conference (Photo: Malaysian Palm Oil Council)

He then rejoined school three years later as an overaged student, knowing that education is important and a key out of poverty—thus also explaining why he backed schools like the private Kuan Cheng High School and Harcroft public school, which was renamed as SJKC Shin Cheng after its benefactor.

Sadly though, he still was unable to finish his own secondary education, let alone enter university. He did, however, properly school all his children, affording them the opportunities he desired but couldn’t get back then.

“Part of my father’s personal motto is integrity, hard work and passion,” says Dato’ Lee. No doubt these principles are the foundation on which IOI Corporation was built, that now sees over 28,000 people employed, with a presence in eight countries worldwide.

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Dato' Lee Yeow Chor IOI Corporation IOI Group Business Corporate Leaders Father and Son Family Legacy Property Developer

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IOI Group's Dato' Lee Yeow Chor on leadership shaped by his father's legacy