Lau shocks exhibition industry with Reed exit

By Mark Armsden SINGAPORE President of Reed Exhibition Companies Singapore (RECS) Mr Jimmy Lau is leaving the company at the end of May in a move which has come as a shock to the Singapore exhibition industry. He will be replaced by Mr Ong Boon Hwee, who is currently a brigadier general in the Singapore Armed Forces. Details of the reasons behind Mr Lau's departure are unclear but his last day with the company will be May 31. Mr Ong will commence duty with RECS on September 1 and the position of president will be filled by current RECS chief executive officer Mr Paul Pei during June, July and August. Mr Lau has declined to comment on his departure until he finishes with the company but he has said he will be "taking a couple of months off" to evaluate his options for the future. Reed has not released any statements regarding Mr Lau's move or his replacement. One high-profile Singapore exhibition figure, who preferred not to be named, said the news was unexpected. "The exhibition industry is hurting as a whole and it has been no secret Reed's business has been hit harder than most, but nobody really expected this," the source said. "No one seems to know why he (Mr Lau) is leaving. We have a fair idea of who will replace him but no one has really heard of him or knows what his background is, I suppose he (Mr Ong) will be suited to their aerospace show." Reed is constructing a 35,000sqm facility to host Asian Aerospace and it has been given government permission to rent the facility out to other organisers as well. Mr Lau is also the president of the Singapore Association of Convention, Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS). He will relinquish this position also and RECS seems to have indicated to SACEOS it will not take on this position, leaving the industry association to search for a new president. "Please be informed that the decision from Reed Exhibitions is that they will not undertake the role of the Presidency when (Mr Lau's) employment with them ends on May 31," a SACEOS statement said "In view of this, it will be discussed at the next executive committee meeting as to who will volunteer to take this (the presidency on."