GC Spotlight: Andrew Ong combines law, technology, and human touch in APAC leadership.

Featured in our GC Spotlight Series this month is Andrew Ong, Vice President of Legal & Compliance for Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa (APM) at KONE. KONE is one of the world’s leading elevator and escalator companies, moving 2 billion people daily. In addition to being part of the APM Leadership Team, Andrew serves as the Sustainability Sponsor and Cybersecurity Champion for KONE in the region. He once ranked number one in Singapore’s Hoxhunt gamified cybersecurity training, though he held the top spot for only one quarter. He obtained his LLB from the National University of Singapore. In his free time, when he’s not riding KONE elevators, he teaches children in Sunday School.

1. Hi Andrew , can you tell us a little about your role and journey into law? What excites you outside of work? 

I actually wanted to be an engineer, but ironically, it was my dad (an engineer himself) who persuaded me to pursue something different. I ended up studying law at the National University of Singapore and spent a few years in practice before deciding to transition to an in-house role. I didn’t do my research thoroughly for my first in-house role (no Google back then!) and ended up at a French MNC where things didn’t work out as planned, before moving on to a more successful Finnish telecom company. After being laid off, I eventually landed my current role as Vice President of Legal & Compliance at KONE, covering the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APM) region. I’m also the Sustainability Sponsor and Cybersecurity Champion for APM.

I love children and teach Sunday School at my church. On weekends, I also enjoy the gravitational pull of my couch and a two-hour power nap.

2. As a Vice President Legal, what are some of the challenges that keep you up at night? How are you addressing them? 

While navigating the construction industry can be challenging, I sleep well knowing we have a strong legal and contracts team in APM. KONE has innovative, reliable products and services, and we work with colleagues who are ethical and professional. We occasionally face situations where customers don’t pay, and in such cases, legal steps in as a last resort. We collaborate closely with our project and finance teams to manage cash flow. Current geopolitical developments also require us to remain nimble and agile.

3. What do you think about the use of LegalTech, data analytics and process optimisation to improve your legal department's value? 

The rise of AI is a game changer. Departments that don’t adopt AI will eventually see a drop in productivity. We all need to explore and harness AI technology to interpret and utilise the data we have. For instance, it should eventually be possible for AI to review our executed contracts and generate a heatmap of liabilities in our order book. We haven’t found this “holy grail” yet, but I’m confident it will come. At KONE, our elevators and escalators are connected 24/7 to the cloud, enabling data analysis that predicts when repairs or maintenance are needed. This approach also supports sustainability by reducing unnecessary site visits, thereby lowering our carbon footprint.

4. What trends do you expect to see in the legal services industry in the next 5 years? 

AI will become increasingly prevalent in all aspects of life and industry, and the legal sector is no exception. Law firms are already developing bespoke AI models and investing in servers and IT professionals. It’s entirely foreseeable that AI will eventually make its way into our courts and justice system as well.

5. Where do you see NewLaw/ALSP fitting in the matrix of your legal department? 

The ability to scale legal and contract resources is a real advantage. While cost and expertise are considerations, specialising in areas like construction law allows us to work efficiently with personnel who already have the relevant expertise. When engaging with NewLaw/ALSP providers, the goal is a seamless, “plug & play” experience that maximises value from day one.

6. What’s your favourite tune and why?  

My favourite piece is Air in G, which was played at our wedding.”