KMS chief growth officer: tech expertise, disciplined execution for clients' sustainable growth

KMS chief growth officer: tech expertise, disciplined execution for clients' sustainable growth

KMS Technology, a leading provider of digital engineering and technology solutions, announced in May the appointment of Chewie Quek as its new chief growth officer. VIR’s Bich Ngoc spoke with Quek about his mandate to lead the company's go-to-market strategy and long-term growth roadmap.

What excites you most about joining KMS Technology and leading its growth initiatives?

This is an opportunity to drive growth at a company that prioritises people and stands at the forefront of digital transformation. Vietnam's vibrant culture and deep talent pool are already powering innovation, and KMS Technology (KMS) has successfully harnessed that potential by investing in its people, the core of its success.

I'm especially energised by the role KMS can play in enabling global clients to unlock the potential of AI and intelligent automation. As companies accelerate their modernisation journeys, they need trusted partners who can bridge vision and execution. KMS is uniquely positioned to lead this charge, combining strong engineering capabilities with a forward-thinking innovation mindset.

How have your experiences, especially in global technology firms, prepared you for this challenging role?

With over 20 years of leadership experience at some of the world's most respected technology firms, including Google and IBM, I have gained invaluable expertise in digital transformation, AI/machine learning, and cloud solutions. These experiences offer key insights into how innovation, scale, and organisational culture come together to drive global impact.

Leading global teams across diverse markets has taught me how to navigate complexity, build high-performing cultures, and scale with both agility and intention.

What unique perspectives do you bring to the team? What philosophies guide your work at the executive level?

The unique perspective I bring to KMS is shaped by a career at the crossroads of global scale and rapid innovation. Having worked across diverse cultures, technologies, and industries, I've developed a leadership philosophy grounded in three core principles: be humble, hungry, and open.

Humility is about leading with collaboration, recognising that the best ideas often emerge from unexpected places, and that true leadership is about empowering others. Being hungry means committing to constant learning, pushing boundaries, and driving growth, both personally and for business. And being open to change, challenge, and possibility is critical as we navigate the transformative rise of AI and emerging technologies.

We're operating in a time of economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and shifting client priorities. How do you view today's market conditions, both as an entrepreneur and a technology-backed growth leader?

Economic cycles are inevitable, but what remains constant is the growing pressure on businesses to operate faster, smarter, and with greater precision. As both an entrepreneur and a growth leader backed by technology, I view today's market not simply as a challenge, but as a pivotal opportunity.

Even amid global uncertainty, organisations are prioritising operational efficiency, resilience, and long-term transformation. Technologies like AI, cloud computing, and intelligent automation have become mission-critical rather than optional, the real differentiator lies in applying them with strategic clarity.

This is exactly where KMS excels. We combine deep technical expertise with disciplined execution and a global delivery model to help clients not just navigate disruption, but use it as a springboard for sustainable growth.

How are market expectations evolving in the light of the next generation of digital transformation, and how can KMS competitively adapt?

Market expectations are evolving rapidly as digital transformation enters a new phase, one defined not merely by modernisation, but by intelligent acceleration. Today's organisations are no longer adopting technology simply to stay relevant. They're embedding AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making deep into the core of their business models.

While the potential of AI is enormous, what clients truly seek is not just access to emerging technologies, but strategic guidance, scalable execution and trusted partners who can translate innovation into meaningful and measurable outcomes.

This is exactly where KMS differentiates itself. With more than 15 years at the forefront of software engineering and digital transformation, the company brings more than just technical know-how. Our competitive edge lies in how we partner, with a focus on co-innovation, deep business alignment, and the ability to help clients navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

When working with technology partners, businesses will have more options in a competitive market. What solid basis makes you believe customers should choose KMS in the premier services segment?

In an increasingly competitive technology landscape, KMS distinguishes itself through a foundational focus on people and a relentless commitment to client success. At KMS, we don't just provide technical services, we build lasting partnerships grounded in collaboration, execution, and innovation.

Over the years, KMS has earned a strong reputation for its deep engineering expertise and consistent service quality and long-term value. Their teams are known not only for technical delivery, but for embedding alongside clients to co-create solutions that accelerate business outcomes. This dedication is reflected in the company's customer satisfaction metrics, including a Net Promoter Score that consistently ranks in the 70s, a testament to the trust and loyalty of its clients.

As a growth leader, how do you balance innovating for the market with enabling your workforce internally?

In the fast-paced tech industry, staying still means falling behind. As a growth leader, I view external innovation and internal enablement as two sides of the same coin, both critical to sustainable success.

At KMS, innovation isn't just about chasing trends, it's about applying the latest in AI, cloud, and data to solve real-world business problems. That requires not only staying ahead of the market, but also ensuring our people have the mindset, skills, and support to lead that change.

Our greatest differentiator is our talent, and we protect that advantage by continuing investing in learning, development, and cross-functional collaboration. Whether through upskilling in emerging technologies or embedding thought leadership into delivery, we create a culture where innovation is both expected and enabled.

Balancing market innovation with internal empowerment isn't a tradeoff, it's a multiplier. When our teams grow, our clients win, and that's the kind of growth that endures.

How do you define sustainable growth objectives in the context of KMS's mission and strategy?

At KMS, sustainable growth means building a business that delivers long-term value for our clients, team members, and stakeholders while maintaining operational resilience and innovation capacity. We define sustainable growth objectives by aligning them closely with our mission: to be a trusted global partner in digital engineering, helping clients accelerate innovation through AI, cloud, and data-driven technologies.

VIR