INTHEBLACK October/November 2024 - Magazine - Page 15
Peter Oey FCPA is CFO
of Singapore-based tech
company Grab, which went
public in 2021.
Oey works closely within
the business on balancing
compliance, internal controls
and risk management.
He highlights the link
between grabbing every
business opportunity and
creating a global vision.
MEET THE CFO
Grab every
opportunity
Singapore-based tech company Grab debuted on the Nasdaq
three years ago, and its CFO, Peter Oey FCPA, says his role now
includes managing a broader range of investors around the world.
He discusses balancing growth and profitability, the value of
global experience and dealing with regulatory complexity.
As told to Adam Courtenay
Photography Rebecca Toh
MY ROLE
Going public
Since we took Grab public on the
Nasdaq three years ago, I have become more
involved in investor relations and capital
markets. As the CFO of a public company,
I am managing a new broad set of investors
globally, and a lot of my time is spent
managing shareholders’ and investors’
expectations.
I am deeply embedded in the business –
working closely with its strategic aims and
constantly assessing which levers to pull in
driving the business forward. At the same
time, I am balancing compliance, strong
internal controls and risk management,
which are stipulated by the local regulators
and the SEC in the US.
Some things remain the same in both
public and private thinking. Finance plays
its natural role in gaining insights into the
business to make better decisions. I am
always looking at ways to improve capital
allocation, provide key business insights and
be the financial steward of the business. I do
not think that changes when pivoting from
the private to the public sphere.
The level of rigour – when it comes to
internal controls – has not changed either.
Taking care of the nuts and bolts related to
running a company remains critical. Based
on my experience in former positions, this is
one core value I believe I have added to this
company.
As capital becomes scarce and more
expensive, the mindset of tech companies
has begun to change. There is no longer
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