The visionary leader, who established the Singapore tech firm in 1981, served as Creative’s chairman and CEO throughout its history.
SINGAPORE: Sim Wong Hoo, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Creative Technology, has passed away, as announced by the company on Thursday (Jan 5).
Mr. Sim died on Wednesday at the age of 67.
“On behalf of all staff at the company, the board expresses its deepest sorrow regarding Mr. Sim’s passing and extends its condolences to his family,” stated the Creative board of directors in a filing with the Singapore Exchange.
The board also expressed heartfelt gratitude for Mr. Sim’s significant contributions during his tenure as chairman and CEO.
They reported that Mr. Sim died peacefully, though no further details were provided. His death was characterized by the interim CEO as a “sad and sudden development.”
Creative, widely recognized for its Sound Blaster sound cards, designs, manufactures, and distributes digital entertainment products globally.
Mr. Sim founded Creative in 1981 and has been its chairman and CEO from the very beginning, the board noted.
“Mr. Sim played a crucial role in shaping the business, providing the company with robust leadership and vision,” they stated.
“Under his guidance, Creative gained prominence for its Sound Blaster sound cards and became a global leader in digital entertainment products.
The company also spearheaded the multimedia revolution, advancing digital entertainment with innovative audio solutions that encompass premium wireless speakers, wireless headphones, high-performance audiophile-grade amplifiers, digital audio converters, and next-generation home-theatre systems.”
In light of Mr. Sim’s passing, lead independent non-executive director Lee Kheng Nam has been appointed as acting chairman, while independent non-executive director Ng Kai Wa will serve as acting vice chairman.
The board has also appointed Song Siow Hui, president of the Creative Labs Business Unit, as interim CEO.
“I have known and worked with Mr. Sim for over 30 years. This is a profound and sudden loss, especially since we recently had in-depth discussions about the company’s future direction,” Mr. Song remarked.
“During those discussions, Mr. Sim was brimming with fresh ideas. Just the night before, he engaged in an extensive discussion with the engineering team and was scheduled to meet with the online sales team the following day.
“The priority now is to ensure the company continues to operate smoothly and to execute the vision and strategy that Mr. Sim envisioned for Creative.”
