Focus
CEDRIC FOO appointed Chairman, JTC Corporation
The Minister for Trade and Industry has appointed Mr Cedric Foo as Chairman of the JTC Board with effect from 1 January 2008.
Mr Cedric Foo was appointed to the JTC Board on 1 January 2007 as its Deputy Chairman. Prior to that, Mr Foo was the Chairman of SPRING Singapore (SPRING) until 31 March 2007.
During Mr Foo’s tenure at SPRING, the Board embarked on many initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of local enterprises. He also championed the drive to improve the quality of enterprises in Singapore.
Mr Foo has brought his extensive experience in working with SMEs to JTC. Most of JTC’s clientele are SMEs, and Mr Foo’s understanding of their needs and expectations have proven useful in ensuring that JTC continues to meet the needs of both SMEs and MNCs.
Under Mr Foo’s guidance, JTC will do more to help enterprises who are facing new challenges in today’s increasingly competitive business environment. As the Corporation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, it is committed to ensuring that its customers ride the next wave of economic success as Singapore embarks on a new chapter in industrial land policy and development.
A rejuvenated JTC Board
One new Board member has been appointed to the JTC Board for two years with effect from 1 January 2008:
- Ms Cham Hui Fong Joanne – Executive Secretary, Chemical Industries Employees Union and Director (Industrial Relations Department), National Trades Union Congress
In addition, six members of the JTC Board have been re-appointed for two years with effect from 1 January 2008:
- Mrs Cheong-Chua Koon Hean – Chief Executive Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority
- Ms Chua Sock Koong – Group Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd
- Mr Jen Kwong Hwa – Managing Director, Micron Semiconductor Asia (S) Pte Ltd
- Mr Gary Kee
- Mrs Ow Foong Pheng – Chief Executive Officer, JTC Corporation
- Mr Tan Gee Paw – Chairman, Public Utilities Board
The JTC Board comprises ten members. The remaining two members of the JTC Board are:
- Dr Ernest Kan – Partner, Deloitte & Touche, Singapore
- Lieutenant General Desmond Kuek – Chief of Defence Force, Ministry of Defence
Mdm Halimah Yacob – Assistant Secretary General, National Trades Union Congress – has stepped down from the JTC Board. Thank you, Mdm Halimah, for your invaluable contributions!
FAREWELL, MR SOO KOK LENG!
With Mr Cedric Foo’s appointment as Chairman of JTC, Mr Soo Kok Leng has stepped down down after four years of service.
Mr Soo was first appointed to the JTC Board in January 2000. He was appointed Chairman from 1 January 2004. Under his astute leadership, JTC broke new ground to create a vibrant industrial landscape in Singapore. With his wealth of experience from the private sector, Mr Soo has helped to steer JTC in spearheading leading-edge industrial projects and fostering closer collaboration with the private sector.
Mr Soo strongly advocated a culture of experimentation and innovation within the organisation in order to respond creatively and efficiently to the rapidly changing environment. This brought about the development of many key strategic projects. They include the Jurong Rock Cavern, Singapore and South-east Asia’s first underground cavern for hydrocarbon storage at Jurong Island; Very Large Floating Structures; Seletar Aero+sPace; the development of Jurong Island into one of the world’s leading petrochemical hubs; and one-north, the R&D hub for biomedical sciences, info-communications and media industries.
JTC has achieved greater organisational excellence under Mr Soo’s stewardship and guidance. Mr Soo valued life-long learning and placed emphasis on the training and development of the employees. JTC has hence won several awards and accolades, such as the People Developer Standard, Singapore Quality Class, Singapore Service Class, Singapore Innovation Class and the PS 21 Distinguished Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence.