Derek Cheng

Derek Cheng is country director for Singapore at Thales and chief executive officer of Thales Solutions Asia, the entity through which the French aerospace, defence and digital security group runs much of its regional activity. He leads more than two thousand employees across four Singapore sites covering aerospace, defence and security, and cyber and digital businesses.

Cheng joined Thales from Vertical Aerospace, where he was vice president and head of commercial for Asia Pacific and built the electric aircraft developer's advanced air mobility business in the region from the ground up. He previously spent five years at Airbus in senior leadership roles spanning urban mobility, government and public affairs, and strategic partnerships across Asia Pacific. Earlier in his career he spent seven years at the Singapore Economic Development Board supporting the aerospace and high technology sectors, finishing as regional director for Europe based in Frankfurt.

Career History

• Country Director Singapore, Thales, and Chief Executive Officer, Thales Solutions Asia (2026 to present)
• Vice President and Head of Commercial Asia Pacific, Vertical Aerospace (2022 to 2026)
• Senior leadership roles in urban mobility, government affairs and strategic partnerships, Airbus (2016 to 2021)
• Regional Director for Europe and earlier roles, Singapore Economic Development Board

What Derek Cheng brings to the country director role at Thales: a rare combination of state facing experience in investment promotion, large aerospace manufacturing exposure at Airbus, and the commercial discipline of building a new market from zero at an electric aviation start up.