The Supreme Court has appointed Ms Juthika Ramanathan as its first chief executive.

She will leave her current post as chief executive of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) and assume her new position on Feb 1, said the Supreme Court in a statement earlier today.

The former solicitor, who was appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, will oversee the administration and operations of the court for an initial period of three years.

She will work closely with the Registrar of the Supreme Court, who will be setting up a new system to manage cases and continue to oversee the work of the Legal Service officers there.

"The principal functions and responsibilities of the chief executive shall include those

of the 'accounting officer' and the Permanent Secretary-equivalent (in a ministry) for the Supreme Court," said the statement.

Ms Ramanathan, who has been Acra chief executive and board member since Apr 1, 2004, had made improvements to Singapore's regulatory framework, including playing a key role in the recent revision of the Companies Act during her tenure at Acra.