SINGAPORE - Perennial Real Estate Holdings has appointed a new group chief operating officer (COO) and chief executive for its Perennial Healthcare unit.

The firm said on Friday (Feb 17) that Mr Liak Teng Lit will assume the role from March 6, after incumbent group COO Mr Goh Soon Yong leaves the company "to devote more time for his personal pursuits".

Mr Liak, in his capacity as group COO, will assist the chief executive of Perennial to oversee and manage the general business of the company.

As chief executive of Perennial Healthcare - which is a newly created position - Mr Liak will help to provide strategic leadership in the development and management of Perennial's healthcare business in Singapore and China.

Mr Liak is a healthcare industry veteran with over 30 years of experience.

He was previously the group chief executive Alexandra Health System for over four years, and held various positions as chief executive of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, Changi General Hospital and Toa Payoh Hospital.

A pharmacist by training, Mr Liak was also involved in the restructuring of major hospitals including the National University Hospital, the former Kandang Kerbau Hospital and Singapore General Hospital.

Perennial chief executive Pua Seck Guan said Mr Liak's leadership and expertise will boost the firm's healthcare arm "as we continue to pursue our integrated real estate and healthcare strategy and accelerate the growth of our healthcare business through the execution of the extensive pipeline of medical and healthcare developments in China, particularly in integrated eldercare with medical facilities".

The company also thanked Mr Goh for his contributions, including leading the development and management of Perennial's real estate portfolios in China, Singapore.