SMRT’s chief spokesperson quits amid talk of leadership changes
SMRT’s vice-president of corporate communications Patrick Nathan has resigned. Mr Nathan’s resignation also comes amid other management changes at the organisation. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The chief spokesperson for SMRT, Mr Patrick Nathan, has resigned amid talk of leadership changes in the embattled transport operator, following a recent string of high-profile incidents.
TODAY understands that Mr Nathan, 56, is currently serving out his notice. News of his resignation was first reported by The Straits Times on Thursday (Jan 18).
Ms Margaret Teo, head of corporate marketing and communications at SMRT, said that the company “does not comment on staff movements”.
Several high-profile incidents in the past year, including a tunnel flooding at Bishan and a train collision at Joo Koon, have put Mr Nathan in the hot seat.
Commuters have also taken the rail operator to task for not providing timely information during major incidents and multiple train breakdowns. For example, it took SMRT some three hours to publish its first joint statement with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) after the Joo Koon collision last November.
Mr Nathan first joined SMRT as its director of security and emergency planning in 2011.
Two years later, he took over the role of vice-president of corporate communications, replacing Ms Kalai Natarajan, a public relations veteran who left after just five months on the job.
Urban transport expert Park Byung Joon suggested that the successor to Mr Nathan, whose expertise was mainly in security, should preferably be a veteran in communications and public relations.
“The most immediate challenge is to repair SMRT’s damaged reputation. Perhaps it is more suitable that the role be put to someone who is specialised in communications and public relations,” said Dr Park of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Mr Nathan’s resignation comes amid signs of a management shake-up at SMRT.
SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming, for instance, has taken a more active and prominent public role in managing the organisation, while Group CEO Desmond Kuek has kept a low profile.
Mr Seah had also created a new leadership role in late December — a chief commuter engagement officer to help SMRT act on commuter feedback in a more timely manner.
“The management shake up sends a clear signal to the public that the organisation is committed to change,” said Mrs Wong Pei Wen, a public relations and social media marketing lecturer at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in the Nanyang Technological University.
However, transport economist Walter Theseira questioned the timing of Mr Nathan’s resignation, saying that his successor will have to spend considerable time understanding the demands of the new job as well as the staff on the ground.
“I am not sure if it’s in the public best interest to upend senior management, especially at the point of time when major resignalling projects are underway,” added Dr Theseira of the SUSS.
