New Requirement Effective 20 October 2026

With effect from 20 October 2026, companies filing Annual Returns must confirm whether there is any individual performing the role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and ensure that the CEO’s particulars maintained by ACRA are accurate and up to date.

This does not mean that every company must appoint a CEO. However, where an individual performs the functions of a CEO, the company should ensure that the individual’s appointment and particulars have been properly registered with ACRA before filing its Annual Return.

Who Is Considered a CEO?

Under Section 4 of the Companies Act 1967, a CEO is any person, regardless of job title, who is principally responsible for the management and conduct of the company’s business or any part of its business.

The determination is based on the individual’s actual role and responsibilities, not merely their job title.

Common Examples

Individuals Who May Be Considered a CEO

• A Managing Director who is responsible for the overall management and day-to-day operations of the company.
• A General Manager who is principally responsible for managing and conducting the company’s business.

In these situations, the individual may fall within ACRA’s definition of a CEO and should be registered accordingly.

Individuals Who May Not Be Considered a CEO

• A General Manager who oversees only a specific department and is not principally responsible for the management of the company’s overall business.
• A family investment holding company where directors make decisions collectively and no individual is responsible for the day-to-day management of the business.
• A dormant company with no active business operations, employees, or individual actively managing the business.

In such cases, the company may not have a CEO for registration purposes.

What Should Companies Do?

Companies should review their management structure and identify whether any individual performs the functions of a CEO, even if that person holds a different title.

If such an individual exists, the company should ensure that:

The CEO’s appointment has been filed with ACRA.

The CEO’s particulars maintained by ACRA are accurate and up to date.

Any required updates are made before the Annual Return is filed.