Singapore – Southeast Asian ride-hailing super-app Grab has announced that its co-founder Tan Hooi Ling is stepping down from her operating roles in the company, including her directorship, by the end of 2023. With this, Ling will be transitioning into an advisory role for the company.
She co-founded Grab with Anthony Tan, group CEO, in 2012, and worked at other companies in the United States before rejoining Grab in April 2015. She led various operations and technology teams as chief operating officer until the appointment of Alex Hungate in January 2022.
She currently leads Grab’s technology organisation, and is mentoring the next-generation of technology leaders, including Suthen Thomas, Grab’s group chief technology officer, and Philipp Kandal, chief product officer. Ling has also served as a member of Grab’s Board of Directors since its public listing in December 2021.
Speaking on the new development, Ling said, “Grab has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The impact we create is a reflection of who we are as a team, and I am humbled to have been able to walk alongside Anthony and the many amazing Grabbers who share the same values and work ethic to build something that improves lives in Southeast Asia.”
She added, “People who know me well know that I am an adventurer at heart, and there are many other personal passions that I have put aside to build Grab with Anthony. With the strong leadership bench we currently have, I believe now is the right time for me to pass on the baton to our next generation of leaders, and to pursue these other passions. I look forward to seeing how Suthen, our first engineering leader who understands the nuts and bolts of Grab and the region, and Philipp, an entrepreneurial and customer-centric product leader, take our technology teams to greater heights.”
Meanwhile, Tan commented, “I have enormous respect and love for Ling, as both a business partner and a good friend. We set the vision to build a double, now triple, bottom line company together, and I am so blessed to have found a true partner who cares deeply about the impact we create for Grabbers, our partners and our region.”
He added, “Ling has invested herself fully into setting up the right leadership bench and cultural foundations for Grab to thrive for the long-term, and while I will miss working with her dearly, I thank her for the many years of trust and partnership, and wholeheartedly support her decision to pursue her personal passions.”
