Calvin Cheng

Calvin Cheng
Born Calvin Cheng Ern Lee[1]
(1975-09-24) 24 September 1975[1]
Singapore
Alma mater Oxford University
Occupation Fashion Entrepreneur

Calvin Cheng Ern Lee is a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore, and is a fashion entrepreneur. He has held senior roles in Elite Model Management and Ford Models. He sits on several media advisory boards in Singapore.

Life and career

Cheng graduated from Oxford University (Hertford College) in the United Kingdom, with a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and a Master of Science in Management.[1]

Cheng was the Asia-Pacific head of Elite Model Management from 2001-2004,[1] and generally worked to create opportunities for Elite in Asian markets, and to bring Asian models to the world market at a time when the fashion industry was becoming more aware of Asia due to China's economic growth,[2] but was still driven by Western ideals of beauty and Asian stereotypes were difficult to overcome.[3][4] In 2003 in India, Cheng opened an Elite Agency and announced plans to open a modeling school,[5] and in the same year in Korea, Cheng worked with the head of the existing Korean Elite agency to discover Korean models that could compete internationally.[6]

In 2004 Cheng set up the Looque agency in Singapore.[1][7]

In 2005, Cheng helped found an association of modeling agencies in Singapore called the Association of Modelling Industry Professionals Singapore (AMIP) to improve standards and professionalism in Singapore's fashion industry and to increase pay for models and their agencies.[8][9] At the time, models in Singapore were paid about $250 for a fashion show while the same work paid $850 in Hong Kong or China.[9] The association succeeded in increasing wages for shows and fashion shoots but in 2011 the members of the association were fined for price fixing.[9]

In July 2009, Cheng was appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore.[10] and in the same year was honoured by the World Economic Forum.[11][12] one of five to be chosen from Singapore.[13]

In 2011, Cheng was appointed the franchisee for Ford Models Supermodel of the World for Singapore, Malaysia and China.[14][15] In the same year, Cheng was appointed to the Board of Screen Singapore.[16]

In 2012 Cheng was appointed to the newly formed Media Literacy Council (MLC) of Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information, which was created to "promote civility and responsibility on the Internet"[17] In November 2015 Cheng generated controversy by writing provocative comments on his Facebook page about killing the children of terrorists, which led to a response from the Chairman of the MLC who said that the comments were “insensitive” and “inappropriate” and also said “I have spoken to Mr Cheng and counselled him that as a member of the Council he will be held to and judged by a higher standard compared to a private citizen...as a member of the Council he has to visibly uphold the values that the Council espouses”.[18] Cheng apologized.[18]

In 2014, Cheng was appointed to the Advisory Board of the newly formed Singapore Media Festival.[19][20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "CV-Calvin Cheng". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Global Makeover".
  3. ↑ "Eyes of the beholder". chinadaily.com.cn.
  4. ↑ Suzanne Sng (6 November 2003). "Asia's Elite Corps". yale.edu.
  5. ↑ "'We'll identify & train new faces'". timesofindia-economictimes.
  6. ↑ "A Korean look for the world". joins.com.
  7. ↑ Looque "About us" page. Page accessed March 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ Electric New Paper. 13 June 2005 Talent Scouts or Talent Touts
  9. 1 2 3 "Agencies which fixed prices had 'noble goals'". asiaone.com.
  10. ↑ Abdullah Tarmugi (Speaker), "Nominated Members of Parliament (Announcement by Mr Speaker)", Singapore Parliamentary Debates, Official Report (20 July 2009), vol. 86, col. 798; Clarissa Oon; Jeremy Au Yong (7 July 2009), "Panel submits names of nine new NMPs", The Straits Times, pp. A1, A4; Loh Chee Kong; Ong Dai Lin (7 July 2009), "A brand new slate: A unionist, a vocal sociologist, a former swim queen among the names unveiled", Today, pp. 1, 4, archived from the original on 15 July 2009.
  11. ↑ "Young Global Leader Honorees 2009" (PDF). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Forum of Young Global Leaders". The Forum of Young Global Leaders - World Economic Forum.
  13. ↑ "S'pore 5 on list of young global leaders". asiaone.com.
  14. ↑ "Archives". thestar.com.my.
  15. ↑ http://www.thesundaily.my/news/fashion/model-search
  16. ↑ http://www.screensingapore.com.sg/about-screensingapore/board-of-screensingapore/
  17. ↑ Media Development Authority of Singapore, a statutory board under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. 30 July 2012 Press Release: New Council to oversee cyber wellness, media literacy initiatives
  18. 1 2 Staff, Today Online. 27 Nov, 2015 Calvin Cheng’s ‘killing children’ remarks ‘insensitive and inappropriate’: MLC chairman
  19. ↑ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nine-global-media-industry-professionals-084200404.html
  20. ↑ http://www.mda.gov.sg/Documents/News/2014/Annex%20A_Singapore%20Media%20Festival%20Advisory%20Board%20Members.pdf
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