Singapore's next leader Lawrence Wong is a U.S.-trained economist who oversaw the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic — and is a pretty good blues guitarist.
The 51-year-old is set to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as prime minister on Wednesday, which will make him just the second nonmember of Singapore's founding family in nearly six decades to lead the affluent city-state.
Wong, who is married without children, comes from a young generation of politicians groomed for leadership in Singapore's carefully orchestrated succession process.