Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) chief executive officer Alan Chan will succeed Mr Michael Lim Choo San as chairman of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on April 1, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced yesterday.
Mr Lim, 69, who has been holding the post for 14 years, will step down on March 31.
Mr Lim, also chairman of the Singapore Accountancy Commission and a member of the Public Service Commission, has been instrumental in the LTA's transformation into a commuter-centric organisation, the MOT said in a statement.
Under his stewardship, the LTA launched the Land Transport Master Plan in 2008, which sets out Singapore's land transport strategy.
"With his guidance and encouragement, LTA fostered greater public engagement and responsiveness towards customers by working closely with key stakeholders, such as grassroots leaders and local residents, to develop land transport solutions that meet diverse needs," said the ministry.
Key rail projects, such as the Circle Line, the Downtown Line and the North-South Line Extension, were also implemented under Mr Lim.
The ministry said that besides championing efforts to create a better commuting experience through infrastructural improvements - such as sheltered linkways and lifts at overhead bridges - Mr Lim was also responsible for transforming Singapore's public bus industry to the new contracting model.
He oversaw the growth of the LTA from 3,600 staff, when he joined in 2002, to 5,800 today, with a strong emphasis on building up a resilient engineering core.
"MOT and LTA wish to place on record our appreciation to Mr Lim for his many years of dedicated and distinguished service to the LTA," said the ministry.
Mr Lim's successor, Mr Chan, 63, has been SPH's CEO since Jan 1, 2003. He was an administrative officer in the civil service prior to joining SPH.
He had previously served as permanent secretary of the MOT, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and principal private secretary to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
He is also a member of the Public Service Commission and a director of non-profit organisation Business China.
He chaired the council that revised the Code of Corporate Governance in 2012 as well.
He holds a Diplome d'Ingenieur from France's Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile and a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from Insead in France.
Insead selected him as "one of 50 alumni who changed the world" in 2009.
"Mr Chan's extensive leadership experience will offer the LTA invaluable guidance in the future development of land transport in Singapore," said the MOT.
