BlackRock, ResMed and Thales chiefs among MNC leaders honoured in National Day Awards

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SINGAPORE – The leaders of three multinational companies with operations in Singapore are among the recipients of this year’s National Day Awards, announced on Aug 9.

BlackRock chairman and chief executive Larry Fink, ResMed chief executive Michael Farrell and Thales chairman and chief executive Patrice Caine were among the 56 recipients of the Public Service Star.

The award recognises individuals for valuable public service or distinguished contributions to Singapore in fields including business, the professions, science, sports and the arts.

Fink, who leads BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is a long-serving member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) international advisory panel. He has advised MAS and Singapore’s leaders on issues including global macroeconomic developments, growth and development of private markets, asset tokenisation, and the impact of artificial intelligence on financial services, an MAS spokesman said.

Under Fink’s leadership, BlackRock has substantially grown its presence in Singapore and is the largest asset manager here by headcount, MAS said. Its Singapore operations serve as the firm’s South-east Asia hub and a key centre for risk analytics, technology solutions and infrastructure capabilities.

The firm has also anchored senior leadership roles and specialist investment capabilities here, while contributing to industry initiatives including the Equities Market Review Group. It is also a key partner on the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership Platform, which seeks to support Asia’s decarbonisation efforts, MAS said.

Farrell has been a strong champion of Singapore and instrumental to the growth of medical device maker ResMed’s presence here.

Singapore is home to the San Diego-headquartered company’s largest advanced manufacturing plant, as well as its regional headquarters, and has grown into a hub for innovation and artificial intelligence.

Caine has been instrumental in growing Thales’ presence in Singapore. Singapore is the French defence and technology company’s hub in Asia for digital identity and security and aviation solutions.

The company has also built local ecosystem capabilities by expanding its IFE Cloud Centre of Excellence and establishing various joint laboratories and technology collaborations here.

Other recipients of the Public Service Star include former president of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre Court Lucy Ferguson Reed, and Singapore’s honorary consul-general in Toronto, Chua Chia-yi.

Overall, 7,491 individuals will receive National Day honours this year in 24 award categories.

The highest civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (with Distinction), was awarded to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and former Council of Presidential Advisers chairman Eddie Teo.

Chief of Defence Force Vice-Admiral Aaron Beng was the sole recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal (Military).