Creative appoints Sim Li Ern, nephew of late founder Sim Wong Hoo, as new CEO

[SINGAPORE] The nephew of Creative Technology’s late founder Sim Wong Hoo has been appointed as its new chief executive officer, the Singapore-listed company said in a bourse filing on Monday (Jan 5).

Effective on Jan 5, Sim Li Ern will take the reins from interim CEO Tan Jok Tin – who will also be stepping down from his role as executive chairman.

Tan, 73, had taken on the interim role in July 2025 when then-CEO Freddy Sim, younger brother of the late founder, stepped down for health reasons shortly after assuming the top post in May 2025.

The 47-year-old Sim Li Ern, who has worked at the company since 2002, previously held roles as vice-president of sales and marketing, and regional sales manager for Asia at the company. He has also served as a non-executive and non-independent director on the board.

He is listed as an administrator of the estate of his late uncle, who died in 2023. According to the bourse filing, he has a direct interest of 22,750 shares in the company, and an interest of 22,408,776 shares of the company held by his uncle’s estate.

The company in August 2025 posted a US$4.4 million net loss for the six months ended June 2025, narrowing from the US$6.8 million loss in the year-ago period, as costs fell with lay-offs.

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For the full year, it posted a US$10.5 million net loss, slightly lower than the year-ago’s US$10.8 million loss.

Shares of Creative closed S$0.005 or 0.9 per cent higher to reach S$0.59 on Monday, before the announcement.