Global Leader’s Playbook with Tan Wern Yuen
Friday, 13th February 2026
About The Event
What did it take to rise to the top of Fortune 100 companies? How did leaders from our part of the world navigate the complexities of global organisations, competing priorities, and cultural differences to lead global teams effectively?
Moderated by Keith Yap, Founder and Host of The Front Row Podcast, this intimate fireside chat explored the leadership journey of Tan Wern-Yuen.
Wern-Yuen previously served as CEO of PepsiCo APAC, while concurrently holding the role of Global Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to PepsiCo, he was President and CEO of Walmart China, overseeing more than US$10 billion in annual revenues across Walmart, Sam’s Club, and its e-commerce operations. The conversation unpacked the decisions, challenges, and mindset shifts required to lead at the highest levels of global business.
The discussion explored:
- The path from early career to C-suite leadership in multinational corporations
- Critical inflection points and decisions that shaped his trajectory
- Leading diverse, global teams across different cultural contexts
- What Singapore-based professionals could learn about competing for global leadership roles
- The reality of executive decision-making in complex, fast-moving environments
Wern-Yuen’s experience across retail, consumer goods, restaurants, consulting, government, and investment offered a comprehensive perspective on leadership principles that transcend any single industry or context.
This event was jointly organised by the Singapore Global Network and Singapore Leaders Network, in partnership with Front Row Media.
Speaker
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Tan Wern-Yuen
Partner at Hillhouse Investment
Tan Wern-Yuen is a Partner at Hillhouse Investment, leading the firm’s consumer and retail investments practice globally.
Before joining Hillhouse in 2025, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at PepsiCo and CEO of PepsiCo Asia Pacific (including Australia, New Zealand, and China), where he spearheaded strategic growth initiatives and worked with market teams and channel partners to enhance the company’s commercial data and digital capabilities.
Previously, as President and CEO of Walmart China, he oversaw more than $10 billion in annual revenues across Walmart, Sam’s Club, and e-commerce operations.
Under his leadership, the company became an industry pioneer in omnichannel innovation and retail digitisation.
His earlier experience includes leading Strategy & Insights for McDonald’s across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, and serving as Managing Director for McDonald’s Taiwan.
Before that, he was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group, advising clients in retail, consumer, and private equity on growth strategy and turnarounds.
Wern-Yuen began his career with the Singapore government, serving in the Singapore Police Force and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Wern-Yuen holds a degree in economics and management from the University of Oxford and a master’s in finance from the University of Cambridge. He currently serves on the boards of Calbee Inc., the Singapore Economic Development Board, and Raffles Medical Group.
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