Press Releases

SENIOR APPOINTMENT CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1      The Ministry of National Development (MND) announced today the following senior appointment changes, which will take effect from 1 August 2010:

• Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), will relinquish her current appointment to take on the appointment of CEO, Housing & Development Board (HDB). She will continue her concurrent appointment as Deputy Secretary (Special Duties) at MND, with the responsibility of overseeing land reclamation issues.
  


• Mr Tay Kim Poh, currently CEO, HDB, will be appointed Deputy Secretary (Development), MND. Mr Tay will replace BG (NS) Tay Lim Heng, who has left the Ministry to pursue other interests.
  


• Mr Ng Lang, currently CEO, National Parks Board (NParks), will take over the appointment of CEO, URA.
  


• Mr Poon Hong Yuen, currently Director (Economic Programmes/ International Relations), Ministry of Finance (MOF), will be appointed CEO, NParks.
  

2      As CEO URA since 2004, Mrs Cheong Koon Hean has played a key role in developing Singapore into a distinctive global city and an endearing home. She spearheaded the development of Marina Bay, and championed the concept of place management for downtown areas such as Singapore River and Orchard Road.  She also led in the development of new growth areas at Jurong Lake District, Kallang Riverside and Paya Lebar Central. Mrs Cheong’s strong leadership will be invaluable to HDB as it continues to meet Singapore’s future public housing needs.

3      Mr Tay Kim Poh, CEO HDB since 2006, spearheaded the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plans to revitalize and rejuvenate Singapore’s public housing estates. Mr Tay enhanced HDB’s sustainability and community engagement efforts.  He also played a pivotal role in the implementation of major public housing policies, such as the Enhanced Additional Housing Grant and the Lease Buyback Scheme. As Deputy Secretary (Development), he will oversee the Ministry’s Housing, and Planning & Research Divisions, the Singapore-Tianjin Eco-city Project Office, as well as the Ministry’s corporate functions.

4      Mr Ng Lang, CEO NParks since 2006, has played a key role in implementing major green infrastructural programmes to achieve the “City in a Garden” vision. This includes the development of new parks and park connector network, streetscape greenery masterplan, skyrise greenery, the expansion of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the new Gardens by the Bay.  He also championed community outreach efforts to enhance public appreciation and participation in our greening and biodiversity conservation programmes. He is well placed to continue URA’s vision to make Singapore a great place to live, work and play in.

5      As Director of Economic Programmes at MOF, Mr Poon Hong Yuen oversees budget policies for economic programmes such as research, infrastructure and industry development. He worked with various ministries to provide effective and value-for-money funding. He oversaw the launch of the Job Credits Scheme, which helped companies cope with the economic downturn. His strong public finance background would be valuable even as NParks seeks to expand its range of greenery programmes going forward in strengthening Singapore’s international standing as a City in the Garden.

6      MND would like to thank Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, Mr Tay Kim Poh and Mr Ng Lang for their significant contributions, leadership and dedication in their various appointments. Their vast experience would continue to be invaluable for their new appointments.  At the same time, MND welcomes Mr Poon Hong Yuen to his new portfolio at NParks and wishes BG (NS) Tay Lim Heng every success in his future endeavours.

7      Brief write-ups of Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, Mr Tay Kim Poh, Mr Ng Lang and Mr Poon Hong Yuen are given in the Annex.

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Annex

Mrs Cheong Koon Hean

        Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, 53, is a Colombo Plan scholar and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Merit) and Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours and University Gold Medal) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. She later obtained a Master’s of Science in Urban Development Planning from the University College London and completed the Harvard Advanced Management Programme.

2      In her public service career, primarily with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Mrs Cheong Koon Hean has held several senior positions, including secondments to the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI). She was appointed CEO URA in 2004 and joined the Administrative Service in 2007. She is concurrently Deputy Secretary (Special Duties) in MND, with the responsibility of overseeing land reclamation issues.

3      Mrs Cheong was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1997 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2005.

4      Mrs Cheong is married with two sons.

Mr Tay Kim Poh

        Mr Tay Kim Poh, 57, is a PSC Scholar who graduated from the University of Singapore with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering.  He holds Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Business Administration, and has completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.  Mr Tay is a Professional Engineer accredited by the Professional Engineers Board, Singapore.

2      Mr Tay began his career in the public sector in 1976 with the former Public Works Department before joining HDB in 1986, where he held various key appointments including secondments to the Ministry of National Development.  He was appointed CEO HDB in 2006.

3      Mr Tay received the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009 and the NTUC Meritorious Service Award in 2010.

4      Mr Tay is married with three children.

Mr Ng Lang

        Mr Ng Lang, 45, graduated from the National School of Chemistry of Montpellier in 1990 with a Master’s in Chemical Engineering on a PSC French scholarship.

2      Mr Ng joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1992 and was later appointed as Director, Policy (Planning and Analysis), East Asia Directorate.  He later joined NTUC Income as Project Manager, Business Enterprises Department before being appointed as Head of the Department.  In July 2002, he joined the National Healthcare Group (NHG) as Chief Human Resource Officer. He was appointed as CEO, NParks in Jan 2006.

3      Mr Ng Lang is married.

Mr Poon Hong Yuen

        Mr Poon Hong Yuen, 40, graduated with a Bachelor in Electronic Engineering (Hons I) from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK, in 1993. Following his graduation, he held various appointments across the public service, including the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), and most recently, the Ministry of Finance (MOF). Mr Poon also worked as a venture capitalist in the private sector covering markets in Shanghai and Silicon Valley. He joined the Administrative Service in 2006.

2      Mr Poon is currently the Director of the Economic Programmes Directorate at MOF. He also oversees MOF's international relations unit, representing Singapore’s interest in international finance forums like ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and APEC, and in organizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

3      He was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.

4      Mr Poon is married with two sons.

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Last updated on 14 June, 2010