Saw phaik hwa biography channel

SINGAPORE - SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek will hand over the reins of the company to former chief of defence force Neo Kian Hong on Aug 1, the transport operator announced on Wednesday (April 18).

Mr Kuek joined the company in October 2012, taking over from Ms Saw Phaik Hwa, who was at SMRT for a decade.

Mr Kuek, also a former chief of defence force, assumed the leadership following a turbulent time for the company, when two massive MRT breakdowns in December 2011 led to a Committee of Inquiry.

Here are some key events during Mr Kuek's tenure in SMRT.

October 2012

Mr Kuek, whose last appointment was permanent secretary at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resource, takes over from SMRT's interim CEO, Tan Ek Kia, who assumed the role after Ms Saw resigned in January 2012.

Spelling out his priorities for the company, Mr Kuek said SMRT must excel in its core business as a public transport operator and added that the focus will be on strengthening SMRT's operations as