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SINGAPORE — Public transport operator SMRT carried out a low-key reshuffle of its senior management in September, the first time it has done so since 2018.
The company disclosed some of the changes on its website. In response to queries from TODAY, SMRT confirmed the reshuffle on Wednesday (Nov 4).
“SMRT’s key executive appointments are part of our transformation to reinforce our leadership bench strength to augment our local public transport operator business, deepen our engineering expertise and build capabilities to grow in both local and selected overseas markets,” said SMRT’s chief communications officer Margaret Teo.
Mr Lee Ling Wee was appointed deputy group chief executive officer (CEO) and president, SMRT International, with effect from Sept 1. He previously headed SMRT Trains.
“As deputy group CEO, he assists the (group) CEO in the running of the public transport services. As president, SMRT International, Ling Wee oversees the recently concluded Singapore-Malaysia Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Singapore and Johor Baru,” Ms Teo said.
Mr Lam Sheau Kai has taken over from Mr Lee to helm SMRT Trains as president.
Mr Lam, a former Brigadier-General with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), was previously deputy managing director of Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).
“He continues to uphold rail operations, maintenance and service standards, while driving efforts for a more sustainable SMRT Trains. Safety, security and reliability remain his focus,” Ms Teo said.
Mr Tony Heng has taken over Ms Dawn Low’s role as executive vice-president of SMRT Experience. According to SMRT’s 2017 annual report, Mr Heng was formerly managing director of SMRT Taxis & Private Hire Services.
According to the SMRT website, Ms Low is now the executive vice-president of SMRT International and chief marketing officer.
The Straits Times last year reported that both Mr Lee and Ms Low were expected to leave SMRT. However, SMRT told TODAY last year that both executives would not be leaving their positions.
Another change in leadership involves Mr Cheong Keng Soon, formerly chief strategy officer, assuming additional responsibility as chief corporate officer (CCO).
Mr Cheong, a former SAF colonel and formerly with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, takes over a role left vacant for two years.
The CCO role was last filled by former SAF colonel Gerard Koh, who left SMRT in August 2018, the last time there was a leadership reshuffle. This was barely a week after former chief executive Desmond Kuek resigned and handed over his duties to Mr Neo Kian Hong, the current CEO.
This was the beginning of an exodus from SMRT that started at the end of 2018, where 30 human resources executives and two senior engineers quit the firm within eight months.
