Sim Wong Hoo, co-founder and CEO of Singapore’s Creative Technology, dies at 67

January 5, 2023

Creative Technology co-founder, chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo died on Wednesday at the age of 67.

The board of directors of the Singaporean multinational technology company released a statement on Jan. 4 announcing that Sim “passed away peacefully.” Interim CEO Song Siow Hui noted that his passing was a “sad and sudden development.”

“The best thing to do now is to ensure the continued smooth running of the Company, and also to execute and realise the vision and strategy that Mr. Sim had for the Company,” Song continued.

Sim had been the chairman and CEO of Creative Technology, known as Creative Labs in the U.S., ever since he co-founded the company in 1981 with childhood friend Ng Kai Wa.

Tributes of praise and admiration for Sim’s work and contributions to the tech industry have poured in since the news of his passing.

Secretlab co-founder and CEO Ian Ang told CNA, “Singapore today lost an industry legend in Mr Sim. Millennials grew up with Creative’s excellent sound cards, MP3 players, speakers, Chinese e-dictionary, and more.”

CEO of Razer Tan Min-Liang posted on Facebook about his shock at hearing the news. He disclosed that he was good friends with Sim and would often meet to discuss audio technology and design.

Along with a picture of the two of them together, Tan posted, “Will miss him – the technology world and Singapore has lost a legend.”

Toh Wee Khiang, director at Energy Market Authority, posted on LinkedIn that Sim “put Singapore technology on the world map with the Sound Blaster.”

“Mr. Sim has played an instrumental role in developing the business and has provided the Company with strong leadership and vision,” the board of directors said in their statement.

Share this Article