Jee Mei Cheng

Senior ethics and compliance executive with 25+ years of experience leading regional compliance programs, investigations, governance, risk assessments, and regulatory compliance initiatives across APAC and multinational organizations. Recognized for strengthening ethical cultures, building robust compliance frameworks, leading complex investigations, and providing trusted advisory support to senior leadership on integrity, regulatory, and conduct-related matters. Extensive experience advising senior leadership on ethics, compliance, integrity, and regulatory matters across diverse APAC markets.

Experienced partnering with operational, procurement, supply chain, finance, HR, and legal stakeholders to embed compliance into business processes and strengthen organizational accountability across complex operating environments. Proven track record leading ethics and compliance programs across diverse regulatory environments, overseeing risk assessments, investigations, compliance monitoring, third-party due diligence, and governance reporting while fostering a strong culture of integrity and accountability.

Ethics and Compliance Leader, IPC Segment & APAC, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa Operations at Kimberly-Clark (2021 – Present)

Lead enterprise compliance, ethics, governance, investigations, and risk management programs across APAC and EEMEA operations. Partner closely with senior leadership, HR, Legal, and business stakeholders to strengthen ethical culture, manage integrity risks, and ensure effective compliance across diverse markets.

• Lead regional ethics, compliance, and governance initiatives across APAC jurisdictions, strengthening compliance oversight, accountability, and risk management.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, HR, Legal, and operational leaders to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance, integrity, and third-party risks across regional operations.
• Direct complex employee, ethics, conduct, and compliance investigations involving senior stakeholders, ensuring robust fact-finding, governance, remediation, and closure.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR, Legal, and business leaders on integrity concerns, employee conduct matters, workplace investigations, and regulatory compliance risks.
• Oversee the assessment and management of compliance risks through risk assessments, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and sustainability-focused remediation strategies.
• Advise senior leadership on anti-corruption, regulatory, conduct, reputational, and organizational risk matters.
• Lead incident response, investigations, remediation, and stakeholder management activities related to employee conduct and compliance concerns.
• Design and deliver ethics and compliance communications, awareness initiatives, and training programs that strengthen compliance culture and promote ethical decision-making.
• Oversee confidential reporting and speak-up matters, ensuring appropriate triage, independent fact-finding, remediation, and reinforcement of non-retaliation expectations.
• Partner with Modern Slavery and Human Rights Centres of Excellence on complex matters, investigations, risk assessments, and program implementation initiatives.
• Received HR-nominated Spot Award for exceptional partnership and sound judgment in navigating complex and sensitive employment-related matters.
• Recognized by HR leadership as a trusted partner in managing employee relations, workplace conduct, and organizational risk matters.
• Recipient of the Play to Win Award for strategic, solution-oriented leadership and business partnership.
• Recipient of the Grow Our People Award for developing talent, mentoring employees, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Awarded company equity in recognition of exceptional leadership, strategic judgment, and enterprise impact in managing complex investigations and critical organizational risks.

Director, Compliance - Southeast Asia at CBRE Pte Ltd (2016 – 2021)

Directed the Southeast Asia Ethics & Compliance function across multiple jurisdictions, serving as the primary compliance adviser to regional leadership on integrity, regulatory, and conduct-related matters.

• Led regional compliance, ethics, governance, audit, and risk management programs across Southeast Asia, partnering with business, operational, and functional leaders to strengthen compliance maturity and risk management practices.
• Established and maintained compliance frameworks covering anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, AML/CTF, data privacy, conflicts of interest, and licensing obligations.
• Managed regulatory inquiries and audits.
• Managed third-party compliance reviews and due diligence activities to identify and mitigate compliance and integrity risks.
• Led annual compliance risk assessments, driving risk identification, mitigation planning, monitoring, reporting, and executive oversight.
• Established governance forums and executive reporting mechanisms that enhanced accountability, ethical oversight, and compliance effectiveness.
• Led significant compliance investigations, remediation programs, and corrective action governance activities.
• Oversaw compliance monitoring, audit readiness, remediation tracking, and governance reporting across Southeast Asia.
• Directed compliance due diligence and post-acquisition integration activities relating to mergers and acquisitions.
• Partnered with HR to achieve 100% completion of mandatory compliance training across the region.
• Introduced Compliance Review Board governance processes, identifying and remediating regulatory and compliance implementation gaps across multiple jurisdictions.
• Led anti-corruption monitoring activities and oversight of quarterly FCPA certification processes.
• Led, coached, and developed regional compliance professionals, strengthening capability, accountability, succession planning, and overall team effectiveness across Southeast Asia.
• Recipient of the Excellence in Shared Services Award for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017).
• Awarded a special bonus in recognition of exceptional performance and significant contribution to the organization.

Internal Audit Manager at Lendlease Asia Holdings Pte Ltd (2012 – 2016)

Led regional risk-based audits, investigations, compliance reviews, and control assessments across Asia.

• Delivered operational, financial, strategic, and compliance audits across multiple business units.
• Conducted fraud, employee-related, and misconduct investigations using data analytics, interviews, and forensic review techniques.
• Assessed compliance with regulatory requirements including data privacy and anti-corruption obligations.
• Partnered with Risk and Compliance functions to strengthen governance, controls, and risk management practices.
• Identified operational and financial control gaps resulting in cost recovery, risk mitigation, and process improvement initiatives.

Audit Manager, Asia Pacific at American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) (2007 – 2012)

Led audit, internal control, and risk management activities across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

• Built and led the Asia Pacific audit team supporting the region's largest operating division.
• Managed regional audit planning and execution using risk-based methodologies.
• Presented key risk, governance, and control observations to senior management and audit committees.
• Led SOX testing, control evaluations, and remediation initiatives.
• Identified significant compliance and regulatory risks requiring executive intervention and corrective action.
• Awarded a special bonus in recognition of exceptional performance and significant contribution to the organization.

Internal Auditor at Lenovo Singapore

Audit Senior, Business Risk Services at Ernst & Young ShinNihon, Japan

Audit Supervisor at Ernst & Young Singapore

Built strong foundations in audit, enterprise risk management, governance, SOX compliance, internal controls, investigations, and stakeholder management

Bachelor of Accountancy (Merit) – Nanyang Technological University, Singapore