Les Buckley

Dr. Les Buckley is currently an affiliate professor of strategic management with Singapore Management University, a role focused on executive development and training (since January 2015).

He is academic director of an IE Singapore sponsored SMU course on Business Effectiveness in Asia, and has worked with Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, B2B Manufacturing and services and FMCG clients as well as Munich Business School Executive MBA.

Prior to this he worked with Asia Pacific Breweries, a subsidiary of Heineken N.V. and Singapore’s Fraser and Neave, from 1988 until 2014 latterly as Regional Managing Director – SE Asia/Oceania (2005-2014). He was responsible to the Board of Directors for operational performance of businesses and breweries in Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and the wider pacific, totaling 11 operating companies with ten breweries, over 1500 staff members, and turnover in excess of S$1.5 billion.

He currently manages investments in business startups and is an advisor to consumer and B2B digital start ups in both Singapore and UK.

Born in UK and educated in NZ, UK, and USA, Dr. Buckley holds a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University (New York), and has more than thirty years experience in commercial and operational roles in pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods with twenty-five years experience in Asia.

Dr. Buckley has held board roles in private and listed companies in executive and non-executive roles. He has also experience of audit, nominating, and executive subcommittees. He has operational, manufacturing, supply chain and commercial experience in a range of Asia Pacific countries. Before becoming a Regional Managing Director, Dr. Buckley was involved in business development in North Asia and was Commercial Director for APB responsible for Tiger beer development worldwide from 2004-2008. Prior to that he was General Manager of three Asian operations.

In addition to this, Les has been involved in a range of extracurricular appointments and has been a board member and audit committee member of Singapore Government’s National Environment Agency, a board member of the Football Association of Singapore and a member of Singapore Compact for Corporate Social Responsibility’s Board. Currently he's a council member and advisor to Singapore Institute for International Affairs a world ranked geo-political and environmental think tank.