Lim Teck Yin
CEO, Singapore Sports Council

Lim Teck Yin became CEO of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) in April 2011, after having been the SAFTI Military Institute's commandant and a former national water polo player with seven SEA Games medals. The hands-on CEO reveals, "We will not only deliver Singapore Sports Hub's infrastructure in 2014, but its events and surrounding concept, as well to create a strong sports atmosphere." The SSC is also working with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports on Vision 2030, where sport becomes a strategy for individual development, community bonding and nation building in the next 20 years.

 

Teo Eng Cheong
CEO, International Enterprise Singapore 

Teo Eng Cheong stepped up as CEO of the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore in January 2011, after three years helming the Competition Commission of Singapore. He has drawn out two new areas of focus: To sharpen IE officers' competitive edge by having each frontline officer specialise in one market; and to get them to know the agencies, government officers and potential commercial partners overseas. IE will focus on helping Singapore-based companies establish a strong presence regionally, and eventually, globally, by banking on their unique strengths.

 

 

George Tanasijevich's appointment as president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Singapore came in July, having been the managing director of global development for its parent company, Las Vegas Sands Corp. He was part of the team that helped the firm win the bid for the integrated resort at Marina Bay. Tanasijevich reveals that it will be the constantly refreshed elements such as exhibitions at the ArtScience Museum and entertainment programmes that will keep drawing people there. On the corporate front, 2,097 events, slated for 2011 and 2012, have been signed on as of August 2011.

 

 

 

Jeremy Lim, youngest son of Cortina Watch's founder Anthony Lim, has always been the retailer's spokesperson, and he was promoted to COO in November 2010. He started out as Cortina Watch's operations manager in 2000, after having been an audit senior with KPMG Singapore. Lim reveals that 112 Katong, the former Katong Mall, will be the first suburban mall boasting of a Cortina Watch store come this December. In the first quarter of 2012, Cortina Watch will also set up a Swatch boutique retailing all of its 15 brands available in Singapore in a duplex store at Wisma Atria.

 

Shaun Seow
CEO and Board Director, Mediacorp

A broadcasting veteran who joined MediaCorp in 1994, when it was still Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, Shaun Seow had been a TV host, among other postings, prior to being appointed as MediaCorp's deputy CEO in 2005. His promotion to CEO in July sees him hit the ground running, with a key strategy being more content distribution and co-productions with overseas partners. "The success of our award-winning television drama, The Little Nyonya, has opened doors for more collaboration and our dramas to be sold in China and the region," Seow announced.

 

Manraj Sekhon
CEO, Fullerton Fund Management Company

Manraj Sekhon has just stepped up as CEO of Fullerton Fund Management Company in October this year. The award-winning industry expert, who had been the director and head of international equities at Henderson Global Investors prior to this appointment, had been featured in various top fund manager lists in the UK in his 17 years of investment experience. Hsieh Fu Hua, Fullerton's chairman, commented that Manraj's investment expertise and deep experience in global markets, as well as strong track record in garnering asset growth, make him an excellent choice for the post. 



Goh Choon Phong 
CEO, Singapore Airlines

The beginning of 2011 marks a new start for Singapore Airlines (SIA) with Goh Choon Phong (who has been with SIA for two decades) stepping up as its CEO. Under Goh's stewardship, SIA confirmed a US$2.3 billion (at list prices) order for eight more Boeing 777-300ERs this August, in line with SIA's policy to operate a young, modern fleet. The group also saw an increase of $876 million in its net profit attributable to equity holders from the last financial year for this 2010-2011 financial year - and this includes an exceptional provision of $202 million for fines imposed on SIA Cargo.

 

Chua Kim Soon
CEO, AXA Insurance Singapore

Chua Kim Soon has helmed different divisions across national borders at AXA since 2003. His appointment as principal officer and CEO of AXA Insurance Singapore in April marks another milestone in his 30-year career. Chua's key responsibilities are to enhance the firm's network of partners, and to focus on delivering even better customer service while spearheading creative product launches. These will complement the portfolio of newly appointed CEO of AXA Asia General Insurance, Gaëlle Olivier, who aims to grow AXA's presence in Asia as a strategic priority for the AXA Group.

 

Foo Mee Har
MP, West Coast GRC, elected member of West Coast Town Council

A fresh feminine face in the largely male-oriented cabinet, Foo Mee Har stepped up as member of Parliament (MP) for the West Coast GRC, elected member of West Coast Town Council after the May general election this year. The global head of priority and international banking at Standard Chartered Bank is also on the government parliamentary committees of finance, trade and industry as well as manpower. She has had a 15-year regional career in the banking industry in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Thailand, including having been Standard Chartered Bank's president and CEO in the latter country.

 

Heng Swee Keat
Minister, Ministry of Education 

Singapore's new education minister, Heng Swee Keat, has served various government sectors throughout his career. Prior to his current appointment, his past occupations include being managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and CEO of the Trade Development Board. Just this September, the Ministry of Education launched the English Language Institute of Singapore (ELIS) to provide professional development for both English language and English-medium teachers; while Swee officially opened the MOE Heritage Centre to document Singapore's education journey over the past five decades.

 

Photography: EK Yap

This article is adapted from "New Faces of Power", published in Singapore Tatler's October 2011 issue.