SINGAPORE (June 20): BreadTalk Group has announced the reappointment of its group managing director (MD), Henry Chu, as group CEO with effect from Jul 1.

He will be succeeding the position of group CEO Oh Eng Lock, who will be stepping down on 30 June in line with BreadTalk’s leadership renewal process, says the group in a release on Tuesday.

After having served as CEO, Bakery Division from May 2010 to April 2012, Chu rejoined BreadTalk as group MD on Oct 17 last year.

In between, he was a general manager at a Hong Kong-based Japanese restaurant chain in China, Maxim’s Caterers, from May 2012 to Sep 2016.

In his present capacity as BreadTalk’s group MD, he oversees the group’s global food and beverage (F&B) operations which comprise the core businesses of Bakery, Food Atrium, and Restaurants – in addition to leading all F&B-related investments.

As group CEO, he will be responsible for overseeing BreadTalk’s global operations to focus on strategic planning, investments, business development and region expansion.

“Since October 2016, Henry has worked tirelessly with the senior management team to maximise growth opportunities in more profitable segments of the business. Together with the team, he assessed the overall health of each business, consolidated underperforming assets, and enhanced the current operating systems and processes,” recalls the group.

More recently, Chu led a team to rebrand RamenPlay to specialty ramen restaurant chain So Ramen, as well as opened the group’s first BreadTalk outlet in Yangon, Myanmar.

“I am pleased to welcome Henry back on board. He is a proven leader who has demonstrated exemplary management capabilities and a track record of accomplishments throughout his career,” states George Quek, chairman of BreadTalk Group.

"Since his return to BreadTalk Group, Henry and his team enhanced key processes that enabled the group to focus on maximising growth opportunities in more profitable segments and consolidate underperforming assets. My fellow directors and I look forward to working with Henry and his professional team to further grow BreadTalk Group’s business and take it to the next level,” he adds. 

Shares of BreadTalk closed 2 Singaporean cents higher at S$1.58 on Monday.