Leon Perera announces relocation to the US and new executive role in New York

Former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) Leon Perera has announced his move to New York City to take on a new role as Executive Director of Yamada Consulting Group (YCG) USA. In this position, he will focus on growing YCG’s business footprint in the United States while strengthening US-Asia business ties. The announcement, made on Tuesday (28 Jan) via LinkedIn, comes as speculation grows regarding Mr Perera’s political involvement, particularly in light of the upcoming General Election (GE), which must be held by November 2025.

Perera's role in Yamada Consulting Group

Mr Perera’s move to YCG USA is rooted in his long association with the company following its merger with Spire Research and Consulting, which he co-founded. On 15 April 2016, Yamada Business Consulting Co. Ltd (YBC), one of Japan’s largest consulting firms, acquired an 80 per cent stake in Spire Research and Consulting Pte Ltd. Mr Perera retained a 20 per cent stake in the company and continued as CEO of the group. The merger positioned Spire as part of a larger publicly listed entity, giving it access to expanded consulting solutions, economies of scale, investment resources, and synergistic business opportunities. The Spire brand also became YBC’s global brand outside Japan. Reflecting on the merger, Mr Perera described it as “the opening of a key chapter in the life of Spire Consulting & Research” and expressed gratitude for the support provided by financial advisors Equiteq throughout the process. In his new role with YCG USA, Mr Perera will engage US companies seeking growth opportunities in Asia and Asian firms aiming to establish a stronger presence in the US. He will also continue as Chairman of the Board for YCG and Spire Group in Asia, ensuring his ongoing involvement with business developments in Singapore and the region.

Doubts about participation in the upcoming GE

Mr Perera’s relocation has prompted questions about his political future. While he has been volunteering informally with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) since August 2024, his move to the US raises doubts about his participation in the upcoming GE. The Elections Department confirmed on 22 January that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has been convened, a key step ahead of the GE. Mr Perera was first elected as a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) after contesting East Coast GRC in the 2015 General Election. In the 2020 GE, he was part of the Workers’ Party team that retained Aljunied GRC with 59.95 per cent of the vote. However, his political career took a turn in July 2023 when he resigned from WP following a video of him and former WP member Nicole Seah being leaked online. The video surfaced just hours before the People’s Action Party (PAP) announced the resignations of Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui over their affair. Since then, Mr Perera has been seen at various PSP events, including their National Day dinner in 2024. While his informal involvement with the party generated interest, his recent move suggests his focus may now be on his corporate role abroad.

Stellar academic background

Before entering politics, Mr Perera excelled academically. A former student of Anglo-Chinese School and Hwa Chong Junior College, he was awarded a Public Service Commission scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. He graduated with double first-class honours in philosophy, politics, and economics from Exeter College, where he won the prestigious Gibbs Prize in politics in 1992. In his LinkedIn post, Mr Perera reflected on his adjustment to New York, praising its multicultural environment and walkability. He also emphasised his commitment to returning to Singapore regularly for business engagements and personal visits. While Mr Perera’s relocation marks a significant professional milestone, it raises questions about his continued involvement in Singapore’s socio-political landscape, particularly as the country prepares for its next General Election.