Mediacorp appoints Niam Chiang Meng as new chairman
National broadcaster Mediacorp announced on Friday that it has appointed Mr Niam Chiang Meng as its new Chairman. Photo: Mediacorp
SINGAPORE — National broadcaster Mediacorp announced on Friday (January 19) that it has appointed Mr Niam Chiang Meng as its new Chairman.
He succeeds current Chairman Ernest Wong, who will step down from the Mediacorp Board after two years, on April 20. Mr Niam’s appointment will take effect the following day.
Mr Niam currently chairs Mediacorp’s Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Board Committee and is a member of its Executive Committee as well as its Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
On his appointment, Mr Niam, 59, said he has worked with Mediacorp in various capacities over the years and “it never ceases to amaze me how talented, passionate and dedicated its people are”.
“I look forward to working with the team and our partners in the ecosystem to ensure that Mediacorp delivers great content to our consumers and harnesses the opportunities created by digital disruption and new consumer trends,” he added.
He said that Mediacorp will remain committed to its public service broadcasting responsibilities, a commitment underscored by the establishment of the new PSB Board Committee.
“On behalf of Mediacorp, I thank my predecessor Mr Ernest Wong for his invaluable contributions and guidance during his term as Chairman,” he added.
“Drawing on his strong track record of corporate and financial management, Ernest has positioned the company well for its next phase of growth and development in the digital age.”
Mr Niam had a long career in the civil service, holding key positions including Permanent Secretary (Information, Communications and the Arts) and Permanent Secretary (National Population and Talent Division), Prime Minister’s Office, before retiring in 2016.
Concurrently, he sits on the boards of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as Chairman, and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. He was also Chairman of the then-Media Development Authority from 2011 to 2016.
When asked to comment on Mr Wong’s brief two-year tenure, Mediacorp Head of Brand and Communications Karen Yew said that his task was to prepare the company for its next phase of growth and development in the digital age, which he has accomplished.
She noted that during Mr Wong’s tenure, as part of a broader corporate restructuring, Mediacorp assumed full ownership of Mediacorp TV Holdings and Mediacorp Press, while improvements were made to the company’s financial structure.
“Mr Wong also oversaw the search and appointment of Ms Tham Loke Kheng as CEO in September 2017 to accelerate Mediacorp’s ongoing transformation. Mr Wong is himself gratified knowing that he has fulfilled or set in motion what needed to be done,” Ms Yew added.
Apart from Mr Wong, Mr Kwa Chong Seng had earlier served for a period of two years as Mediacorp Chairman, from 2002 to 2004.
Mr Wong, 72, said that the company will be in able hands. He described Mr Niam as someone with “a strong pair of hands and the natural choice for Mediacorp Chairman”.
“Mediacorp has benefited from his vast experience, deep insights to the media industry and understanding of public service since he joined the board,” he said.
“It is timely that he steps up to helm the board now, as the company sharpens its focus on consumers and on increasing its relevance in a digital age.”
He added: “On my part it is gratifying to know that what needed to be done has so far been done or set in motion. It’s now timely for a younger Chairman to take over.”
