Fireside Chat with Richard Eu, Chairman of Eu Yan Sang
Join fellow Harvard alumni and guests for an engaging fireside conversation with Richard Eu, Chairman of Eu Yan Sang, one of Asia’s most enduring and respected healthcare brands.
Eu Yan Sang’s 147-year history can be traced back to its establishment by Richard’s great-grandfather, Eu Kong in the small mining town of Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia, in 1879. He noticed the tin mine coolies were heavily dependent on opium as the easiest method for immediate relief for their medical needs. Eu Kong brought in herbal remedies to nurse their health, thus setting up the first Eu Ya Sang' shop in Gopeng.
Richard’s grandfather, Eu Tong Sen, was one of Asia’s richest men, who made his fortune in tin mining, rubber plantations and remittances, and even has a main street in Singapore’s Chinatown named after him.
But by the time Richard joined Eu Yan Sang in 1989, little of the business empire remained.
As the fourth-generation leader of the family enterprise, Richard has been widely recognised for transforming Eu Yan Sang from a traditional Chinese medicine business into a modern, professionally managed regional healthcare group.
In this intimate session to be moderated by Andrew Nai (Harvard Business School GMP’13), Richard will reflect on his journey stewarding a heritage brand through reinvention, digitalisation, global expansion, shifting consumer expectations, evolving ESG expectations, sustainable growth and new ownership. The discussion will also explore themes of family business leadership, brand longevity, innovation in traditional industries, and the evolving role of Asian wellness in a global marketplace.
Attendees will gain insights into how legacy organisations can adapt to shifting consumer expectations while staying true to their cultural roots.
Whether you are interested in entrepreneurship, heritage brands, healthcare, or leadership in a rapidly changing world, this conversation promises thoughtful perspectives and candid reflections from one of Singapore’s most respected business figures.
Event Details
- When: Tuesday 9 June, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Where: Withers KhattarWong LLP, 18 Cross Street, Level 14, Singapore 048423 (nearest MRT station: Telok Ayer, DT18 - 5 min walk away)
- Price (includes food and drinks):
- $15 for a dues-paying HCS member each (includes HCS-HBS Dual member) and a guest each
- $30 for a Harvard alumni (non-dues-paying member and non- HCS-HBS Dual member)
Important note:
Tickets are non-refundable, so please make sure to confirm your membership status before buying.
About Richard Eu
Richard Eu is a fourth-generation member of the Eu family and one of Singapore’s most influential business leaders. He is the Chairman of Eu Yan Sang International (EYSI) and leads the board in providing governance oversight, deliberating Group strategy and providing counsel to the Group CEO.
Richard has been at the heart of Eu Yan Sang’s transformation — steering it from its origins as a traditional apothecary founded by his great‑grandfather in 1879 to a modern, global wellness brand spanning retail, digital health, and an extensive range of products. Since joining the business in 1989, and later serving as Group CEO from 2002 to 2017, he has been instrumental in shaping EYSI into one of Asia’s leading TCM groups. Under his stewardship, the company expanded from just six outlets to over 250 retail stores and clinics, while also establishing a strong foothold in the broader natural wellness sector by adapting TCM offerings to the expectations of contemporary consumer needs.
Educated at Anglo‑Chinese School (Singapore), Kent College (UK), and the University of London, where Richard earned an LLB, he returned to Singapore in 1971 and began his career in finance and investment.
Richard Eu has received the following multiple awards for his leadership and entrepreneurship excellence:
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Singapore), 2011.
CEO of the Year, Singapore Corporate Awards 2010 (SGX < S$300m category).
Brand Leader of the Year, Influential Brands 2016.
Public Service Medal (PBM), Singapore National Day Awards 2020.
Beyond Eu Yan Sang, Richard is also active in the following board and community roles:
Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Tuan Sing Holdings and SUTL Enterprise (SGX‑listed).
Board member of Nippon Life India Asset Management Singapore and Dragonfly Education Group.
Former Chairman of the Singapore University of Social Sciences, where he contributed significantly to community and education initiatives.
Richard is also active in philanthropy, serving as the Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee for the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF). He has been actively involved in organising events, including the GCTEF Harmony Gala held on March 1, 2025, which raised over $700,000 to support persons with disabilities in Singapore. His leadership contributes to the fund’s goal of enabling inclusion.
About Andrew Nai
Andrew Nai has served on the Board of the Harvard Club of Singapore since 2017 and is its current Vice President. He is the co‑founder and director of Aura Private Equity, the private equity arm of Aura Group, which focuses on Southeast Asia and invests in significant minority and selective control positions in small and mid‑market companies with enterprise values of up to US$150mil. Aura Group is a global asset management firm with operations in Singapore (HQ), Australia, Vietnam and The Philippines, and manages over US$1bil in assets. Andrew completed the General Management Program (GMP) at Harvard Business School, collects art and volunteers on othe
Cost: - $15 for a dues-paying HCS member each (includes HCS-HBS Dual member) and a guest each