SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek announces resignation to staff
Outgoing SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek thanked staff at the train operator for a "most meaningful and memorable journey with me" in an e-mail on April 18, 2018.PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED
11 MIN AGO
FACEBOOKTWITTER
Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - In an e-mail address to SMRT staff on Wednesday (April 18) outgoing chief executive Desmond Kuek thanked staff at the train operator for a "most meaningful and memorable journey with me".
"It has been my privilege to have served alongside you, and to have had the honour of leading the company through this critical period of transformation and system renewal," he wrote.
The former general and permanent secretary, who is stepping down after 5½ years at the helm, went on to give credit to all staff "for all that we have accomplished on so many fronts".
"I give full credit to each and every one of you," he said. "You have inspired me with your dedication, professionalism and teamwork - in breaking new frontiers and rising to overcome every challenge that came our way.
"We weathered many storms together; and I take responsibility as your CEO for all the times,whatever the cause or reason, that we fell along the way.
"Thank you for standing with me, and one another, with your determination to keep forging ahead on our quest for excellence."
Mr Kuek indicated he will leave by end-July.
Observers hopeful Neo Kian Hong can hit the ground running[/paste:font]
SMRT's Desmond Kuek stepping down, expected to be replaced by former chief of defence force Neo Kian Hong[/paste:font]
"From Aug 1, I shall join many others proudly cheering SMRT on. Thank you all for your trust, support and friendship. My thoughts will continue to be with you, the fine men and women of SMRT, who go the extra mile each and every day to deliver on safe, reliable journeys and bring happy smiles to all who journey with us."
He said SMRT is "firmly on track for better journeys ahead", and that this was "a timely juncture for me to hand over to a new leadership team to take the company on its next chapter".
Mr Kuek, took over the helm of the rail operator in October 2012, replacing retailer Saw Phaik Hwa, who spearheaded SMRT's diversification during her 10-year tenure.
According to reliable sources, his successor is expected to be former chief of defence force Neo Kian Hong, who is currently permanent secretary for defence development.
Dear fellow colleagues,
THANK YOU FOR THE JOURNEY
Thank you all for being a part of this most meaningful and memorable journey with me these past six years. It has been my privilege to have served alongside you, and to have had the honour of leading the company through this critical period of transformation and system renewal.
For all that we have accomplished on so many fronts - to improve operational performance, enhance customer experience, strengthen workforce health, entrench organisational excellence, and sustain business growth - I give full credit to each and every one of you. You have inspired me with your dedication, professionalism and teamwork - in breaking new frontiers and rising to overcome every challenge that came our way. We weathered many storms together; and I take responsibility as your CEO for all the times,whatever the cause or reason, that we fell along the way. Thank you for standing with me, and one another, with your determination to keep forging ahead on our quest for excellence.
We are firmly on track for better journeys ahead, and this is a timely juncture for me to hand over to a new leadership team to take the company on its next chapter. The future is bright and exciting, and from 1 August 2018, I shall join many others proudly cheering SMRT on. Thank you all for your trust, support and friendship. My thoughts will continue to be with you, the fine men and women of SMRT, who go the extra mile each and every day to deliver on safe, reliable journeys and bring happy smiles to all who journey with us.
Desmond Kuek
President & Group CEO
Outgoing SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek thanked staff at the train operator for a "most meaningful and memorable journey with me" in an e-mail on April 18, 2018.PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED
11 MIN AGO
FACEBOOKTWITTER
Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - In an e-mail address to SMRT staff on Wednesday (April 18) outgoing chief executive Desmond Kuek thanked staff at the train operator for a "most meaningful and memorable journey with me".
"It has been my privilege to have served alongside you, and to have had the honour of leading the company through this critical period of transformation and system renewal," he wrote.
The former general and permanent secretary, who is stepping down after 5½ years at the helm, went on to give credit to all staff "for all that we have accomplished on so many fronts".
"I give full credit to each and every one of you," he said. "You have inspired me with your dedication, professionalism and teamwork - in breaking new frontiers and rising to overcome every challenge that came our way.
"We weathered many storms together; and I take responsibility as your CEO for all the times,whatever the cause or reason, that we fell along the way.
"Thank you for standing with me, and one another, with your determination to keep forging ahead on our quest for excellence."
Mr Kuek indicated he will leave by end-July.
Observers hopeful Neo Kian Hong can hit the ground running[/paste:font]
SMRT's Desmond Kuek stepping down, expected to be replaced by former chief of defence force Neo Kian Hong[/paste:font]
"From Aug 1, I shall join many others proudly cheering SMRT on. Thank you all for your trust, support and friendship. My thoughts will continue to be with you, the fine men and women of SMRT, who go the extra mile each and every day to deliver on safe, reliable journeys and bring happy smiles to all who journey with us."
He said SMRT is "firmly on track for better journeys ahead", and that this was "a timely juncture for me to hand over to a new leadership team to take the company on its next chapter".
Mr Kuek, took over the helm of the rail operator in October 2012, replacing retailer Saw Phaik Hwa, who spearheaded SMRT's diversification during her 10-year tenure.
According to reliable sources, his successor is expected to be former chief of defence force Neo Kian Hong, who is currently permanent secretary for defence development.
Dear fellow colleagues,
THANK YOU FOR THE JOURNEY
Thank you all for being a part of this most meaningful and memorable journey with me these past six years. It has been my privilege to have served alongside you, and to have had the honour of leading the company through this critical period of transformation and system renewal.
For all that we have accomplished on so many fronts - to improve operational performance, enhance customer experience, strengthen workforce health, entrench organisational excellence, and sustain business growth - I give full credit to each and every one of you. You have inspired me with your dedication, professionalism and teamwork - in breaking new frontiers and rising to overcome every challenge that came our way. We weathered many storms together; and I take responsibility as your CEO for all the times,whatever the cause or reason, that we fell along the way. Thank you for standing with me, and one another, with your determination to keep forging ahead on our quest for excellence.
We are firmly on track for better journeys ahead, and this is a timely juncture for me to hand over to a new leadership team to take the company on its next chapter. The future is bright and exciting, and from 1 August 2018, I shall join many others proudly cheering SMRT on. Thank you all for your trust, support and friendship. My thoughts will continue to be with you, the fine men and women of SMRT, who go the extra mile each and every day to deliver on safe, reliable journeys and bring happy smiles to all who journey with us.
Desmond Kuek
President & Group CEO
