SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek is finally stepping down after five and a half years! Former Chief of Defence Force Neo Kian Hong will be stepping into his shoes from August 1.
Here’s everything you need to know about SMRT’s new CEO in 60 seconds.
Former army general
Neo spent 30 years in the military. He was the Chief of Singapore Army from 2007 to 2010 and Chief of Defence Force from 2010 to 2013.
In 1999, Neo served as SAF’s contingent commander for the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) in 1999.
The taskforce was formed to address the humanitarian and security crisis in East Timor from 1999 to 2000.
2003 SARS crisis
According to some users in Hardwarezone forum, Neo was the second person seconded to Ministry of Health during the 2003 SARS crisis in Singapore.
He and his team apparently came up with the contact tracing methodology which brought SARS swiftly under control.
No nonsense guy
Sources have revealed that Neo is not a person to be messed with.
Well, this style of “no-nonsense” leadership might be useful in eradicating the “deep-seated cultural issues” within SMRT.
Fate intertwined with Desmond Kuek
It’s not the first time Neo is taking over the baton from Kuek.
In 2007, he succeeded Kuek as Chief of Army.
In 2010, he took over from Kuek again as Chief of Defence Force.
Neo will be Kuek’s successor for the third time, this time as SMRT’s new CEO.
Engineering-trained
Unlike previous SMRT CEOs, Neo is trained in engineering.
He was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship in 1985 and graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical and electronic engineering from King’s College London.
He also holds a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Perhaps his educational background will help him oversee the rail operations.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Hardwarezone forum
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