Singaporean renewable energy entrepreneur Robin Pho has joined shipping conglomerate Tsao Pao Chee (TPC) Group as managing director, energy transition, where he will establish and run a new business unit focused on low-carbon growth.
In a post announcing the move on Tuesday, Pho said the role will see him evaluate, invest in, and implement initiatives across clean fuels, low-carbon energy and energy management, while building a team to execute TPC’s philosophy to build a wellbeing economy.
TPC is a fourth-generation family enterprise that employs more than 9,000 people in China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. It describes itself as purpose-led, grounded in the belief that economic progress must align with human and planetary flourishing, and was behind the Impact Week sustainability event in Singapore last September.
Pho’s remit includes formulating strategy, prioritising target sectors, leveraging synergies with adjacent TPC businesses, and pursuing investments or mergers and acquisitions to build operating energy businesses within the group.
Pho told Eco-Business that he looked forward to driving TPC’s energy transition strategy, and working closely with colleagues “to unlock internal and external opportunities.”
He takes on the role after a year with Gurin Energy, where he worked on the Vanda Solar & Battery project, a planned 2,000-megawatt solar and energy storage development that aims to power up 390,000 Singapore households with energy sourced from Indonesia.
Pho is best known as the founder and chief executive of Right People Renewable Energy (RPRE), a Singapore-based family business he built into a regional renewable energy developer. RPRE, which previously provided manpower to the oil and gas industry until Pho reengineered the business following the passing of his father, developed and ran solar projects across Asia.
He led the company through its growth phase and eventual sale in 2022 to EDP Renewables (EDPR), one of the world’s largest renewable energy producers. Following the acquisition, RPRE became part of EDPR’s Asia Pacific platform. Pho left to join Gurin Energy in December 2024.
