Kien M. Lee graduated with honors from Yale College, with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics (distinction) and started his career in 2001 in Merrill Lynch’s Mergers and Acquisitions Investment Banking group, based in New York. Notable transaction experiences include Immunex’s acquisition by Amgen for US$18BN. To date this remains the biotech industry’s largest transaction.
In 2002, Kien was selected to join ML’s Global Relationship Management team where he devised and executed strategies, and identified opportunities to better serve, penetrate and grow existing client base. The group (consisting of 4) raised an incremental $4.4BN in assets to the firm.
In 2004, Kien was promoted to Associate in the Corporate Finance/Treasury group, reporting to the CFO’s office. In this role as essentially “investment banker” to ML itself, he participated in the bank’s core capital management initiatives, which included restructuring/consolidation of legal entities, funding & capital allocation to business units, and issues relating to regulatory & risk management
In 2005, Kien joined Deutsche Bank as business and client strategy officer/advisor reporting directly to the Americas CEO, Seth Waugh, where he advised on all aspects of business and client related issues (assessed organizational, regulatory/legal, management, and financial impacts on growth/re-organization initiatives and potential acquisitions).
Kien is currently founder and managing director of SENATUS, Asia’s leading digital platform and boutique agency specializing in digital branding and investment strategies, and engagement campaigns via social media. Our portfolio of digital properties are exemplary works reflecting our expertise in creating and executing upon digital, online and social media presence.
Our flagship property, SENATUS.NET, is Asia’s Premier Luxury and Lifestyle Magazine, curating the best and more interesting from the region and around the World to our readers. The website was the winner of the Gold Award in the Best Online Magazine category at the Asian Digital Media Awards in 2010 and 2013, organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
With more than 1.6 million fans on Facebook, it is the largest social media presence for a multi-media publication in Asia Pacific and Middle East.
He was also the Festival Director of the first ever Haute Couture Week held outside of Paris in its 156 year history, at Marina Bay Sands in October 2011.
He also won the Singapore leg of Hugo Boss’ “Dress Me for the Finale” competition where F1 drivers from British Team McLaren, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, donned his designs on qualifying day at the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix.
