Fave founder Joel Neoh has a new mission: helping a generation of young people across Southeast Asia and Oceania move from simply playing games to building them.
Roblox, the global immersive platform for gaming and creation, has appointed Joel Neoh as Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Announced in Kuala Lumpur on 30 October 2026, the appointment makes him the company’s most senior business lead across both regions.
Neoh joined Roblox this October. He will oversee Roblox’s strategy in Southeast Asia (SEA) and Oceania (OCE), working closely with local teams and partners.
“I believe this region can become one of the most important sources of creativity on Roblox, helping reimagine the way people come together through play and creation,” said Joel Neoh.
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Why Roblox Is Betting on Southeast Asia and Oceania
Roblox sees both regions as a significant opportunity for long-term growth. They are home to a young, digitally native population and a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem with a strong focus on safety.
“South East Asia and Oceania are important regions for Roblox within APAC, with a vibrant and fast-growing community of creators and players,” said Zhen Fang, VP of International at Roblox.
“We are committed to the region for the long term, and we will keep investing in our local teams, creators and partners here.”
4 Key Priorities for Joel Neoh at Roblox
1. Growing Roblox’s Regional Presence
Neoh’s first task is to grow Roblox’s presence in SEA and OCE and foster partnerships across both regions. That includes aligning the company’s global product and business priorities with local market demands.
2. Championing Local Creators and Studios
A core focus of the role is the region’s growing community of Roblox developers and creators. Neoh will help local studios make use of Roblox’s tools to scale and find commercial success.
3. Introducing Roblox to Players and Parents
Roblox also wants to familiarise more players and parents across the region with the brand, building awareness among families as the platform grows.
4. Keeping Young People Safe
Safety sits at the centre of the plan. “As we grow, keeping young people safe and working closely with parents, regulators and local communities will remain central to everything we do,” Neoh said.
For more on the topic, read how Malaysia’s gaming industry can level up protection for young players.
From Consuming to Creating
Joel Neoh said he has seen first-hand the creativity, optimism and entrepreneurial energy in the region after spending his career building companies here.
“We’re at a moment where technology is making it easier than ever for people to move from simply consuming digital experiences to creating them. That’s what excites me most about Roblox,” he said.
“We have an opportunity to help a new generation of creators across Southeast Asia and Oceania turn ideas into experiences, communities and businesses that can reach the world.”
Who Is Joel Neoh?
Joel Neoh is an entrepreneur and investor with two decades of experience founding, building and scaling technology companies across Asia Pacific, spanning digital media, e-commerce, fintech, consumer health and AI.
He founded GroupsMore in Malaysia, which merged with Groupon ahead of its IPO, and went on to lead Groupon Asia Pacific. He also founded Fave, the popular Southeast Asian fintech and consumer payments platform that scaled to more than 10 million users before its acquisition by Pine Labs in 2021.
Most recently, he was Managing Director at Prenetics, leading its consumer health businesses.
An active investor, Neoh has backed more than 50 startups across Asia, particularly in consumer technology. He is a Founding Partner of First Move, an early-stage venture capital platform supporting entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia, and was most recently an investor involved in launching IM8.
“Joel has built and scaled businesses across the region for two decades and his entrepreneurial experience and strong ties to the local tech ecosystem make him the right leader to guide the next phase of our growth across these regions,” said Fang.
About Roblox
Roblox is an immersive gaming and creation platform that offers people millions of ways to be together, inviting its community to explore, create, and share endless unique games. Its vision is to reimagine the way people come together in a world that’s safe, civil, and optimistic.
For more about Roblox, visit corp.roblox.com.
