SINGAPORE: The revelation that a Singapore tech CEO forged his credentials did not seem to rock the boat so much.
Jon Lee, who founded artificial intelligence start-up Vizzio, admitted in an interview with online publication Tech In Asia that he forged a computer science doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
While the news made its rounds in Singapore’s tech circles, backlash has been relatively muted. One prominent AI leader, Lee Kai-fu, quit Vizzio’s board, but the rest have stood by their CEO.
In a statement released on Jan 17, Jon Lee apologised for misrepresenting his academic qualifications, but added that Vizzio’s board and shareholders have decided that he will continue to serve as CEO.
This seems jarring when others who fabricated their credentials in Singapore have faced worse consequences. In December 2023, a woman who forged a bachelor’s degree to secure several jobs over 16 years was sentenced to eight months’ jail.
Why was punishment administered in one case but not the other? Does this suggest double standards between corporate leaders and employees, or the tech sector and the rest of the business world?
Claiming to have a Cambridge PhD wasn’t the first time that Mr Lee lied. In 2001, he was fired by software company Elipva for fabricating prestigious awards and fellowships in his resume. He was serving Elipva as Chief Technology Officer under the name Dennis Lee.
Vizzio’s board appeared to defend Mr Lee’s history in a statement on Jan 16, saying that Mr Lee shouldn’t be sanctioned again for his actions when he was a 29-year-old technopreneur.
But what started as one lie more than two decades ago seems to have evolved into a prolonged charade under new guises and a new company. After news reports suggested that Vizzio inflated its list of customers, the company removed logos of clients from its website.
The apparent pardoning of Mr Lee raises questions about honesty and accountability, especially when the chairman of Vizzio is a director of SMRT and serves on the boards of other public agencies.
Boards are supposed to provide checks and balances to the executive team running the company, and to suggest disciplinary action if necessary. By not holding Mr Lee responsible for his long-standing deception, there is a risk of normalising dishonesty at the highest levels of leadership.
Vizzio’s board announced on Friday (Jan 26) that it has appointed an interim CEO. It expressed confidence that “this leadership enhancement, along with our commitment to robust governance, positions Vizzio for a strong future”. The statement did not mention whether any action has been taken against Jon Lee.
In the case of the woman who was sentenced to prison for forging her bachelor’s degree, she was caught when one employer fact-checked her credentials with Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The case went to court because NTU lodged a police report. Mr Lee’s case may become a non-issue if no Vizzio stakeholder takes legal action.
In the world of start-up fundraising, success often hinges on credibility and trust. As start-up founders are usually pitching a vision without much to show for it yet, investors must assess the start-up with limited information, and mostly have just the team’s words to fall back on.
While it may be true that Vizzio’s technology is not dependant on Mr Lee’s academic qualifications, as the board has argued, I believe the firm’s investors and customers have a responsibility to hold Mr Lee accountable.
Leaders should be held to a higher standard than employees. As stewards of private or public organisations, they have a moral imperative to uphold values as a model for society - and therefore should be taken to task if they fail.
Was Mr Lee’s deception inspired by the adage that you should “fake it till you make it”? Founders of fledgling start-ups might be tempted to exaggerate achievements to boost their credibility, but this can be taken too far.
It is certain that Vizzio’s board thought carefully before issuing that statement of support for Jon Lee. Their statement implies that they believe in the company’s product despite Mr Lee’s behaviour. And while we should look at results and celebrate what Vizzio’s team has achieved, we need to separate the business from the person.
Leaders are expected to prioritise ethics over short-term gains. From a 2023 Edelman study on trust, Singapore CEOs are expected by the public to engage in and advocate for social issues of import. With this expectation foisted upon CEOs, moral standards are elevated.
If innovation and profits become the north star of organisations where values such as honesty, trust and integrity fall by the wayside, then the structures of society slowly rot from the inside.
Gwendolyn Regina is a former start-up founder and experienced start-up investor.
Continue reading...
Jon Lee, who founded artificial intelligence start-up Vizzio, admitted in an interview with online publication Tech In Asia that he forged a computer science doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
While the news made its rounds in Singapore’s tech circles, backlash has been relatively muted. One prominent AI leader, Lee Kai-fu, quit Vizzio’s board, but the rest have stood by their CEO.
In a statement released on Jan 17, Jon Lee apologised for misrepresenting his academic qualifications, but added that Vizzio’s board and shareholders have decided that he will continue to serve as CEO.
This seems jarring when others who fabricated their credentials in Singapore have faced worse consequences. In December 2023, a woman who forged a bachelor’s degree to secure several jobs over 16 years was sentenced to eight months’ jail.
Why was punishment administered in one case but not the other? Does this suggest double standards between corporate leaders and employees, or the tech sector and the rest of the business world?
Related:
SILENT LEGITIMISATION OF DISHONESTY
Claiming to have a Cambridge PhD wasn’t the first time that Mr Lee lied. In 2001, he was fired by software company Elipva for fabricating prestigious awards and fellowships in his resume. He was serving Elipva as Chief Technology Officer under the name Dennis Lee.
Vizzio’s board appeared to defend Mr Lee’s history in a statement on Jan 16, saying that Mr Lee shouldn’t be sanctioned again for his actions when he was a 29-year-old technopreneur.
But what started as one lie more than two decades ago seems to have evolved into a prolonged charade under new guises and a new company. After news reports suggested that Vizzio inflated its list of customers, the company removed logos of clients from its website.
The apparent pardoning of Mr Lee raises questions about honesty and accountability, especially when the chairman of Vizzio is a director of SMRT and serves on the boards of other public agencies.
Boards are supposed to provide checks and balances to the executive team running the company, and to suggest disciplinary action if necessary. By not holding Mr Lee responsible for his long-standing deception, there is a risk of normalising dishonesty at the highest levels of leadership.
Vizzio’s board announced on Friday (Jan 26) that it has appointed an interim CEO. It expressed confidence that “this leadership enhancement, along with our commitment to robust governance, positions Vizzio for a strong future”. The statement did not mention whether any action has been taken against Jon Lee.
Related:
INVESTORS CAN ONLY ASSESS START-UPS BASED ON WORDS
In the case of the woman who was sentenced to prison for forging her bachelor’s degree, she was caught when one employer fact-checked her credentials with Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The case went to court because NTU lodged a police report. Mr Lee’s case may become a non-issue if no Vizzio stakeholder takes legal action.
In the world of start-up fundraising, success often hinges on credibility and trust. As start-up founders are usually pitching a vision without much to show for it yet, investors must assess the start-up with limited information, and mostly have just the team’s words to fall back on.
While it may be true that Vizzio’s technology is not dependant on Mr Lee’s academic qualifications, as the board has argued, I believe the firm’s investors and customers have a responsibility to hold Mr Lee accountable.
Leaders should be held to a higher standard than employees. As stewards of private or public organisations, they have a moral imperative to uphold values as a model for society - and therefore should be taken to task if they fail.
Related:
INTEGRITY CANNOT BE SACRIFICED FOR MATERIAL PURSUIT
Was Mr Lee’s deception inspired by the adage that you should “fake it till you make it”? Founders of fledgling start-ups might be tempted to exaggerate achievements to boost their credibility, but this can be taken too far.
It is certain that Vizzio’s board thought carefully before issuing that statement of support for Jon Lee. Their statement implies that they believe in the company’s product despite Mr Lee’s behaviour. And while we should look at results and celebrate what Vizzio’s team has achieved, we need to separate the business from the person.
Leaders are expected to prioritise ethics over short-term gains. From a 2023 Edelman study on trust, Singapore CEOs are expected by the public to engage in and advocate for social issues of import. With this expectation foisted upon CEOs, moral standards are elevated.
If innovation and profits become the north star of organisations where values such as honesty, trust and integrity fall by the wayside, then the structures of society slowly rot from the inside.
Gwendolyn Regina is a former start-up founder and experienced start-up investor.
Continue reading...