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In 1996, Marcus Chu found himself captivated by the success story of ERA's then-top salesperson. It was a tale that spoke of potential and of the transformative power within ERA. Inspired by this narrative, Marcus realized ERA possessed the formula to unearth greatness in individuals, regardless of their industry background. He viewed ERA not simply as a real estate company but as a platform for personal and professional advancement. Marcus would later go on to replicate this success himself, eventually becoming CEO of ERA Singapore, ERA Asia Pacific, and APAC Realty.
Over the past 28 years, Marcus witnessed the evolution of the real estate industry first hand. From the introduction of mobile technology to the proliferation of digital transactions, he has observed the landscape undergo significant shifts. Looking ahead, Marcus understands that change is the only constant. As technology continues to revolutionise the way we conduct transactions, he anticipates a digital future where tech-savvy agents thrive in an increasingly digital market.
Upon taking up the mantle of CEO, Marcus set forth a clear vision: to steer ERA towards a new era defined by innovation and transformation. Recognising technology's pivotal role in shaping real estate's future, Marcus boldly invested in Management Team establishing an in-house tech team. Rejecting the notion of outsourcing, he endeavoured to create proprietary platforms that would set ERA apart within the industry. The integration of ChatGPT within SALES+ was just the beginning; Marcus envisions a future where AI transcends “Artificial Intelligence” to become “Assistive Intelligence” that enhances human capabilities and revolutionizes the real estate experience. ERA saw the highest net increase of agents among all real estate agencies in 2023; Marcus faces a new but positive challenge – to nurture new blood into well-oiled selling machines. He acknowledges the attractiveness of the industry's rewards, yet he recognises the significance of grit and hard work for new agents to go the distance. He enlisted agency leaders to provide guidance and mentorship to newly joined individuals, with the goal of refining their raw potential into polished professionalism.
Marcus also embraces Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the ERA Givers' Movement, where community benefit transcends corporate profit. His commitment to an abundance mindset solidifies his belief in the transformative power of generosity. In 2021, ERA became the first real estate agency in Singapore to adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Since then, as One ERA, we have raised $1 million to support various initiatives. One of these initiatives includes supporting ComLink @ Jurong West's Gift- A-Family program, which helps fulfill the wishes of vulnerable families and enables them to acquire new skills.
In the business world, the prevailing attitude revolves around “What's in it for me?” However, in the broader context, the focus shifts to “What can I do for you?” This is the difference between scarcity and abundance mindsets. While the scarcity mindset is abundant in business, the abundance mindset is scarce.
As the world grappled with unprecedented challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcus stood resolute in his belief that adversity breeds innovation. Witnessing the accelerated pace of digital transformation, he recognized that necessity was indeed the mother of invention.
Marcus is a visionary leader whose journey embodies the spirit of transformation, innovation, and compassion. His dedication to excellence serves as an inspiration for ERA and the real estate industry at large, propelling them towards a future defined by limitless possibilities.
Doris joined the Group in 1991 and led ERA's foray into project marketing. Today, she heads the project marketing team and is responsible for forging strategic partnerships and creating strong relationships with property developers, whilst spearheading new business opportunities to expand the company's business in Singapore and abroad.
Doris' experience covers all market segments, from ultra-luxury private homes to suburban Executive Condominiums. Under her strong leadership, ERA has emerged as one of Singapore's leading project marketing real estate agencies. Since its inception, the team has sold more than 60,000 new homes, with more than 450 projects launched. Today, the project marketing team oversees a multi-billion dollar portfolio.
Doris has been leading ERA Singapore's ESG efforts since 2021. She was appointed the chairperson of the company's Management Sustainability Committee in February 2023. Almost $1 million has been raised to benefit various causes. The ESG commitee has also collaborated with various organisations to create more awareness to go green, inspire sustainable practices, and to encourage people to give back to the community.
Doris graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Science (Honours) in Estate Management from the National University of Singapore. She is a Licensed Appraiser registered with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and a Member of the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers.
Eugene first joined the Group in 1991 before returning in 2003. He is a well respected real estate opinion leader, and his professional views on the real estate market and its pertinent issues are frequently sought by the media. Eugene appears regularly on television and radio and is often quoted by various print and online media. A highly regarded leader in real estate industry, Eugene is also a member of the Council for Estate Agencies' Professional Development Committee.
He oversees the legal and compliance team, and is responsible for the compliance of all agents' business dealings with the Estate Agents Act, and the relevant subsidiary legislation. His team is also the first point of contact that investigates any customer feedback.
Eugene also heads ERA's agent recruitment, recognition and retention operations as well as its business services and partnerships team.
He has over 33 years of experience in the real estate industry, seven of which were with publicly listed property developers such as DBS Land and CapitaLand. Eugene holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Estate Management and a Master of Science (Real Estate) from the National University of Singapore.
Kevin joined the ERA family in 2003. He started as a rookie sales associate and rose swiftly to the position of division director in just 6 years in the light of his strong sales performance and management abilities. Kevin has been awarded with numerous top sales and leadership awards and was appointed APAC Realty Chief Agency Officer in 2022, working closely alongside CEO Marcus Chu & Deputy CEO Doris Ong.
A proud father of twin girls and only in his early 40s, Kevin also founded Preeminent Group, the largest real estate group in Singapore with almost 4,000 agents. A true inspiration, Kevin has guided thousands of agents to attain success and financial freedom over the years, with Preeminent Group producing some of the highestperforming realtors within the industry. Kevin walks the talk too – he is adept at teambuilding, and is well-versed with on-the-ground sales planning, project marketing and the latest industry trends.
Kevin was the first recipient of the ERA Honorary Award & Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding achievements & leadership, as well as various contributions and selfless service to the organisation & the industry.
Chee Yong joined the Group in 2011. He heads the finance and commission teams, and is responsible for financial management and implementing controls to safeguard assets, integrity of data and financial information. He was also appointed as the Data Protection Officer (“DPO”) for the group when the data protection laws came into effect in Singapore in 2014 and relinquished the role to head of legal and compliance on 1 January 2023.
Prior to joining the Group, Chee Yong was a Financial Controller at Raffles Education Corporation Limited from 2003 to 2011, and an auditor at KPMG Singapore from 2000 to 2003. Chee Yong is a qualified Chartered Accountant of Singapore and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) from the Nanyang Technological University. He is also a member of Young Finance Leaders of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) since June 2018 and a member of Investigation and Disciplinary Panel of ISCA since July 2020.
Raymond joined the Group in 2022 and serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He plays a pivotal role in driving the Group's technology strategies and is instrumental in building and enhancing its infrastructure to accelerate digital transformation and drive innovation. Raymond oversees Tech Innovation, Enterprise Tech, Infrastructure Operations, and Information Security, ensuring the Group remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
With over 20 years of IT project delivery and consulting experience, including 12 years in regional tech leadership roles, Raymond brings a wealth of expertise to the Group. His industry experience spans across e-Commerce, Retail, Shipping, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Raymond has led numerous successful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations, systems design and developments, demonstrating his strong track record in delivering impactful tech solutions.
Before joining the Group, Raymond held the position of Director of Enterprise Tech at ZALORA, where he led a regional team of 40 tech employees across Southeast Asia. During his eight-year tenure, he supported over 2,200 employees in 10 markets, implementing various tech developments such as ERP, Infrastructure Operations, Information Security, IT Audit and Controls, Data Governance, and Tech Budget Planning. Prior to ZALORA, Raymond held key IT positions at Golden Agri-Resource (Project Manager), HG Metal Manufacturing (Head of IT & ERP), and Ship Centric APAC (Head of IT Service Delivery).
Raymond holds a Bachelor of Computing from the National University of Singapore and is recognized for his excellent financial and accounting knowledge, which complements his technical expertise.