On Feb. 25, Kwek, 84, filed a lawsuit against his son, CDL CEO Sherman Kwek, 49, and several board members, accusing them of governance lapses and an “attempted coup” to consolidate control.
In response, Sherman alleged that Wu was the root cause of the conflict, claiming she had been “interfering in matters well beyond her scope” and wielding “enormous influence” over his father.
Wu, 65, has known Kwek for 33 years, first meeting him in 1992 at a dinner party in Taiwan, which she likened to a job interview.
Her diverse background—including a PhD in music education, roles as a TV host, and a recording career—had likely intrigued the business tycoon, she told Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao.
Born in Taiwan, Wu was sent to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music at age 15 and later earned a master’s degree in piano performance from The Juilliard School in 1982, followed by a doctorate from New York University.
After spending 15 years in the U.S., she returned to Taiwan, where she released several albums, hosted a popular music TV program, and presented the 1997 Golden Melody Awards.
Wu’s relationship with Kwek has drawn scrutiny in the past. In a 2018 employment tribunal case in London, she was described as Kwek’s personal assistant, though she was not formally employed by CDL and was paid personally by the chairman, according to Malay Mail.
Court documents stated she acted as his “eyes and ears” due to his advancing age.
“Dr Wu assists the chairman. Due to his age (then in his 70s) she acts as his ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground,” the documents stated.
“Dr Wu travels to… properties across the world, sometimes with the chairman and sometimes alone; the cost of her travel is paid by the chairman and not the company.”
In a 2023 interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Wu detailed her role in CDL, saying she had accompanied Kwek for decades to meetings, site inspections, and hotel renovations.
Wu attended a major CDL event in 2024 alongside Kwek and his wife, Cecilia Kwek, in what The Straits Times reported as an “awkward encounter.” She was seen greeting dignitaries, including government officials, while attendees observed uneasily.
Sources close to CDL told The Straits Times that Wu has recently increased her public presence, often appearing at events where Cecilia is also present.
However, Wu has expanded her portfolio beyond CDL. She is now secretary-general of GeekCon International, an initiative of Dark Navy, an independent security research institute.
In 2023, she introduced the GeekCon International Cybersecurity Conference to Singapore, with Kwek serving as its honorary consultant, according to The Business Times.
