Dr. Sam Yap is the Group Executive Chairman and co-founder of Cherie Hearts.

At 35 years of age, he is also one of Singapore’s youngest Deputy Registrar of Marriages (Solemniser) with the Registry of Marriages, Singapore. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics. Prior to starting Cherie Hearts, Dr Yap worked for over ten years in both the public as well as private sectors. During this period, he built up a great wealth of experience in areas of management and operations. His passion and love for children eventually saw him realising his dream of setting up his own business which actualised in the founding of Cherie Hearts.

With his dynamic sense of leadership and his vision, Dr Yap has managed to bring Cherie Hearts to its present status as a key player in Singapore’s childcare industry. From just a humble single centre in 2001, Dr Yap has managed to build up on Cherie Hearts’ brand name, expanding the business island wide. Today, there are nearly 35 Cherie Hearts branches island wide, with total enrolment nearing 2000 children, serving about 1500 households.

Dr. Yap was also the driving force behind building Cherie Hearts into an award winning childcare organisation. Over the years, Cherie Hearts has been the proud recipient of several quality awards – Singapore Promising Brand Award 2005, Singapore Promising Franchisor Award 2005, Work-Life Excellence Award 2006 and 2008, Singapore Prestige Brand Award 2007 for established brands, and more recently the Singapore Prestige Brand Award 2008, for Established Brand and CitiBusiness Regional Brand. As Brand Champion of the Group, he oversees the consistent branding of the Cherie Hearts Group, ensuring and maintaining a common and uniform identity and also maintaining excellent quality control in all Cherie Hearts branches. Business-wise, Dr Yap has built and designed a unique and excellent franchise model, which has played a crucial role in expanding the business so rapidly. For his acute business acumen and his able leadership in building Cherie Hearts, Dr Yap was conferred Doctorate (PhD in Entrepreneurship) by Wisconsin International University (WIU), United States of America (USA) in 2007. He is the youngest ever recipient of this honour from WIU, which has also conferred similar PhDs to well known figures like Dr Bill Gates and Dr George Quek. He was also the Champion of the Shell Livewire Young Business Start-up Award 2005, jointly organised by Shell, SPH and ITE and was one of two finalists for the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2006 (Emergent Category). Dr Sam Yap was one of the Top Entrepreneurs for the prestigious Annual ASME (Association of Small & Medium Enterprise)-Rotary Club Entrepreneur of The Year Award 2007. Dr Yap also brought Cherie Hearts to win the top honours in last year’s inaugural Professional Enterprise Award 2007 (Regional Award) and Significance in Corporate Vision award.

Dr. Yap is a member of the Singapore Young Business Group headed by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Teo Ser Luck. He is also a member of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SME Committee). In November 2008, Dr Yap received the very prestigious invitation to be a Presidential International Visiting Scholar of Wheelock College. As a strong advocate for the youth, he is also the Vice Chairman of “Long Tien Pugilistic Association of Singapore”, who were Champions in the 14th Ngee Ann City Lion Dance Competition in 2008. To bring the private childcare industry in Singapore to the next level, Dr Yap formed and currently chairs the Association of Private Childcare Organisations (APCO) in Singapore.

"Amidst stiff competition in today's society, branding is imperative in ensuring that we stay ahead of our competitors. Branding is really the heart of any service or product. Effective branding will successfully relate the brand to its customers. And that is what we have tried to do with Cherie Hearts. We strive to build a brand that is unique and special. Here at Cherie Hearts you feel a sense of warmth and security because it is your home away from home where parents and school work in unison for our children's childhoods."

DR. SAM YAP SOON GUAN
Group Executive Chairman / Co-founder

Dr Gurchran J Singh is the Group President and co-founder of Cherie Hearts. His passion and zeal for children saw him leaving the civil service, where he served for nearly ten years, to start Cherie Hearts Group. He is currently in the midst of completing his Masters in Early Childhood Education with Roehampton University, UK. Having played a vital role with regards to operational matters while in the civil service, Dr. Singh has a very crucial and imperative role in overseeing the entire operations of Cherie Hearts Group, including day-to-day operations; parent involvement initiatives and implementation of various programmes for the children, amongst other matters.

With fine interpersonal skills, Dr. Singh is an able and motivational leader, who leads his team of over 400 staff with much panache. Leading from the ground up, Dr. Singh’s approachable demeanour ensures an open working relationship between management and staff, creating an open and trusting working environment, motivating staff to achieve greater heights. His view on the importance of work-life balance has seen him spearhead many staff welfare initiatives and benefits. This has resulted in a unified and satisfied workforce with an extremely low staff turnover rate. Cherie Hearts’ emphasis and active stance in ensuring balance between work-life and family commitments has led to the organisation being the recipient of the Singapore Family Friendly Employer Award 2004 and the Work-Life Excellence Award 2006 and 2008.

Dr. Singh received the inaugural Work-Life Leadership Award 2008 awarded by the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy (TriCom). This prestigious national award honours individuals who have demonstrated commitment and made significant contribution to developing and implementing innovative Work-Life solutions in their own workplaces.

Dr. Singh also plays an active role in consulting with new franchisees that are keen to carry the Cherie Hearts logo. This ensures a smooth transition period for clients as well as ascertaining quicker success in the business. His advisory role has ensured the successful running and operations of all Cherie Hearts branches island-wide. Dr. Singh also leads the crisis management task team in assisting in the resolution of any matters.

With his personable style, Dr. Singh will ensure the continued success of Cherie Hearts. He has up to recently, prepared a younger and even more dynamic force of second liners to lead the Group even further.

"Too often we get caught up in the madness of everyday life and in fighting to stay ahead of competition. Such a mindset has found its way into the lifestyles of our children and their families. At Cherie Hearts we want to make a difference. We want to encourage parents to give their children a meaningful childhood. Enrolling them at Cherie Hearts is a great start because we are committed to touching hearts and moulding the lives of our children.”

DR. GURCHRAN J SINGH
Group President / Co-founder

Ms Susan graduated with a Diploma in Architectural Technology from Singapore Polytechnic. She worked as a Designer in a Façade Consultant firm for three years before moving on to be a Management Executive for the Sales & Marketing Department of Gliderol Doors Pte Ltd. In 1997, Susan was head-hunted by IEC Group Pte Ltd to oversee the business development of the Group. She also took charge of the Group’s sales and marketing functions, establishing good relations with key customers as well as major suppliers, hence performing a key role in the customer-supplier value chain.

More importantly, in our childcare context, her human relationship skills with external and internal customers provide a ground for further expansion of the business. She is also the Finance Director of Cherie Hearts School House since 2003, our very first franchise branch and has the knowledge of childcare operations as well. Growing with us since 2003 she will help Cherie Hearts soar to greater heights locally and internationally.

Ms Wenda Ng graduated with a degree in Economics and Accountancy at the City University in London and also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. She worked as an accountant for four years in London, before moving to Asia where she built up her own business to conduct seminars and workshops on Accelerated Learning Systems for students and teachers in mainstream secondary schools. Ms Ng first joined Cherie Hearts as a parent in 2001 and subsequently joined the Board of Directors. She has held positions such as Branch Director of HQ-owned centres, Vice President and Senior Vice President of the Service Quality department in HQ. As President for Overseas Operations, she oversees the expansion of Cherie Hearts beyond our shores whilst ensuring that our highest operations and quality standards are consistently maintained.

Mr Gan possesses a Degree in Sciences from Nanyang University and a Diploma in Business Administration from National University of Singapore. He has been in the private sector for more than 40 years and was the Vice President of Singapore Bus Services (SBS) Transit. Mr Gan sits on the Executive Committee of Hokkien Huay Kuan and is also in the School Management Council (SMC) for the six schools managed by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) - Ai Tong School, Chongfu School, Kong Hua School, Nan Chiau Primary School, Tao Nan School and Nan Chiau High School. Mr Gan is also a council member for the Holy Innocent High School Alumni. With his vast network, he is developing new business opportunities in overseas markets for the Group.

Professor Bergstrom has been involved in educational endeavours throughout her career and has worked with MCYS for decades, changing the face of early childhood education in Singapore. Her research interests include the Relationship of Children’s School Achievements and their Out-of-School Experiences. Dr. Bergstrom has worked in Singapore on a United Nations Development Program, a four-year initiative focused on early childhood, and with MCYS, to educate staff on high-quality programs and designing learning environments for children. Dr. Bergstrom is an author of several books, including School's Out!, All the Best Contests for Kids (5th edition), and The Best Summer Ever. She has contributed to publications such as Educational Leadership, USA Today, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Redbook.