AEM Holdings has announced that Amy Leong has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer after just one year in the role, as part of a “board-led leadership realignment for growth.” The company’s current President and Chief Technology Officer, Samer Kabbani, will assume the CEO position effective Monday, July 28.
In a filing with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on July 27, AEM confirmed the leadership change, with Chairman Loke Wai San — who has held the post since 2011 and leads key investor Novos Tellus — endorsing Kabbani’s appointment as central to the group’s long-term growth strategy.
Leong succeeded Chandran Nair in July 2024, who had been CEO since 2020. Kabbani joined AEM in September 2020 and has played a key role in shaping its next-generation semiconductor test technologies.
Prior to AEM, Kabbani held executive positions at Advantest and Astronics Test Systems. He holds over 30 registered patents in areas such as advanced thermal management, factory automation, and vision inspection.
In a press statement, Kabbani expressed gratitude for the board’s trust, saying he is “excited to lead AEM into its next chapter” amid a global shift toward AI-driven semiconductor innovation. He emphasized the company’s continued focus on customer partnerships, thermal technologies, and automation expertise.
DBS analysts Amanda Tan and Ling Lee Keng, in a July 28 note, highlighted Kabbani’s technical depth and the strategic continuity he brings. However, they acknowledged that the sudden leadership change may impact market sentiment in the short term.
Still, DBS reaffirmed its “buy” rating for AEM, raising the target price from $1.50 to $2.10. AEM shares closed at $1.72 on July 25, up 1.78%, amid broader market optimism.
