New appointments and change of Permanent Secretaries

The Public Service Division (PSD) announces two new staff appointments into the Singapore civil service.

Mr Png Cheong Boon, 47, Chief Executive Officer, JTC Corporation (CEO, JTC), will be appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry) on 1 June 2017.

Mr Png spent the last 24 years in the Statutory Boards of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), rising to be Chief Executive of two key statutory boards, SPRING Singapore and JTC Corporation in the past 9 years.

PSD states that Mr Png’s appointment as Permanent Secretary, via a non-traditional path, is testament to the diversity of pathways to the office of Permanent Secretary, and adds further diversity to the experience and background of senior public service leaders.

Mr Png, an EDB-Glaxo scholar, joined the Economic Development Board (EDB) in 1993. As an EDB officer, Mr Png held various appointments in EDB, including over six years at EDB’s overseas operations in San Francisco and Chicago. His last appointment in EDB was Regional Director for Central United States based in Chicago. Mr Png was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore from 2003 to 2008, and subsequently as Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore in 2008.  He has been Chief Executive Officer, JTC Corporation since 2013.

Mr Png will remain concurrently as CEO, JTC. Mr Loh Khum Yean will continue to be Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry).

Rear-Admiral (RADM) Png Cheong Boon (Source: MTI) and Lai Chung Han (Source: NAS)., 44, Chief of Navy, Ministry of Defence will be appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Education) on 19 Jun 2017.

RADM Lai is an SAF (Overseas) and President’s Scholar who joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1992. He held various command and staff appointments in the course of his military career, including Commanding Officer of RSS Valiant, Director of Future Systems Directorate, Commanding Officer of 188 Squadron, Director (Policy) and Fleet Commander. He was appointed Deputy Secretary (Policy), MINDEF in 2012. He has been Chief of Navy since Aug 2014.

Ms Chan Lai Fung will continue as Permanent Secretary (Education).

Changes in Permanent Secretary Appointments

Apart from the two appontments, PSD announced two changes in the Permenant Secretary Appointments.

Mr Neo Kian Hong, also an SAF (overseas) scholar and former Chief of Defence, will be appointed Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) – designate from 25 May 2017, concurrent to his appointment as Permanent Secretary (Education Development).  He will relinquish his appointment as Permanent Secretary (Education Development) and be appointed Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) with effect from 19 Jun 2017.

Mr Ng Chee Khern, President/SAF scholar and former Chief of Airforce, will relinquish his appointment as Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) on the same date. Mr Ng will continue as Permanent Secretary (Smart Nation and Digital Government), Prime Minister’s Office, and concurrently Chairman of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) Board.