A Trailblazing Business Leader and an Inspiration for Emerging Women Leaders

Chairwoman, CEO, & Managing Director LHT Holdings Ltd.

Over the past century, traditional and culture does not allow women to work and are homebound. The cultural and traditional factors that discriminate and hamper women's human rights are not only confined to traditional communities and societies and that is found everywhere including the western cultures. Today, we do see some countries have changed based on gender equality which sees more female ministers, CEOs, heads of departments, and holdings high ranking positions in the maledominated occupation. One such woman business leader is May Yap, Chairwoman, CEO, and Managing Director at LHT Holdings Ltd.

In December 1977 after graduated from GCE 'O” level, May joined former Lian Hup Timber & Trading before it was renamed LHT. May holds a Diploma in Sales and Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Singapore and has completed the Operation Management Innovation (OMNI) programmer conducted by A*Star in 2011. She is also a member of the Singapore Institute of Director.

As a teenage admin clerk, she held multi-tasking jobs like receptionist, delivery arrangement, stock inventory, accounts, and housekeeping etc. The company had less than 20 employees in its workforce and on leasing land size not more than 100 sqm situated in Mandai area. As of 2nd January 1988, May was Sales Director in charge of all sales and marketing functions. She took the opportunity to be an Executive Director by purchased as one of the holders of the major shares during the company restructured for its listing.

On 26-02-2016 May was appointed as Acting Managing Director and was re-designated as the Chairman, Managing Director and CEO on 10 February 2017. With over 20 years of experience, she plays a key role in exploring opportunities in new markets.

May's primary responsibility is to monitor market developments and to ensure the Company's product development efforts is aligned to market demands. She is actively involved in the pallet rental business in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

“We saw little changes in the timber industry over the years. But today the world has changed to Digital Technology Transformation where 'pen & rulers' will be phasing out,” says May. At LHT, the team faces many challenges besides innovative products, it is facing the new generation gaps where it is hard to find workers and staff entering the timber trade. May finds that the company is fortunate as the government provides funds to cope with the digital transformation. She adds, “We took the opportunities to collaborate with A'STAR since 2009 - The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is a catalyst, enabler and convenor of significant research initiatives among the research community in Singapore and beyond.”

“ Deforestation is one major cause of climate change. Recycling is one of the many efforts that reflect our commitment toward mitigating climate change and global warming

According to May, wood pallets have been traditional for more than 60 years since world war two, to entice the target audience the company needs to provide a competitive one-stop solution. Besides selling wood and plastic pallets, LHT has technology pallets known as system pallets that cooperate with the RFID system. The company also manufactures environmentally-friendly pallets that make from recycling wood waste.

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