2 new Permanent Secretary appointments in June
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Having spent more than two decades working in the statutory boards, Mr Png Cheong Boon, 47, will be appointed as Second Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry) from June, the Public Service Division (PSD) announced yesterday.
The PSD described the JTC Corporation chief executive officer’s “non-traditional” journey to reach the top echelon of the Civil Service as testament to the diversity of pathways to the Office of Permanent Secretary.
It also “adds further diversity to the experience and background of senior public service leaders”, the agency said, adding that Mr Png would bring “deep knowledge and experience in economic, industry and enterprise development to the public service leadership” in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In response to queries, the PSD noted that Mr Png’s path was “along a more specialist track”, unlike officers who had been appointed Permanent Secretary following “a more generalist career with regular rotation across different ministries”.
Mr Png, an EDB-Glaxo scholar, joined the Economic Development Board in 1993. From 2003 to 2008, he was Spring’s deputy chief executive, before he became its CEO. Since 2013, he has been heading JTC Corporation.
Taking a more conventional path and following in the footsteps of several former military leaders is Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han, 44. The current Chief of Navy will become Second Permanent Secretary (Education) from June 19.
The PSD also announced that Mr Neo Kian Hong, 53, Permanent Secretary for Education Development and former Chief of Defence Force, will replace Mr Ng Chee Khern, 52, as Permanent Secretary for Defence Development.
The change will take effect on June 19, but from Thursday, Mr Neo will start taking on his new role as a designate, on top of his current role.
Mr Ng will continue to be Permanent Secretary for Smart Nation and Digital Government in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mr Ng, who is also the chairman of the Government Technology Agency Board, was Air Force chief from 2006 to 2009, and director of the Security and Intelligence Division in the Ministry of Defence from 2010 to 2014.
