Veteran perm sec Chan Yeng Kit to retire from public service, will stay on as SPH Media CEO

SINGAPORE – Former permanent secretary for health Chan Yeng Kit, 59, will retire from the public service on Jan 1, 2025, but he will continue at the helm of SPH Media as its chief executive.

Mr Chan became chief executive of SPH Media on July 15 after an extensive career in the public sector, labour movement and private sector.

From 2019 to 2024, Mr Chan was permanent secretary at the Health Ministry, where he helped lead the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also played a key role in initiatives like Healthier SG, which focuses on preventive health, and the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty scheme, which aims to ramp up the healthcare sector’s manpower needs.

Mr Chan began his career in the civil service in 1989, and has served in key roles including as chief executive of the former Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore; permanent secretary at the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts; and permanent secretary for defence, among other things.

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2022.

Another top civil servant, Mr Loh Ngai Seng, 53, will be made permanent secretary-designate for national development, the Public Service Division of the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Nov 8.

He will start in his new role on Dec 11, and will step down as permanent secretary for transport on the same day.

Two other permanent secretaries will be redesignated from their current roles.

Mr Lau Peet Meng, 49, who is permanent secretary for transport development, will be redesignated permanent secretary for transport on Dec 11.

Mr Luke Goh Peng Ee, 49, who is permanent secretary for law and second permanent secretary for foreign affairs, will be redesignated permanent secretary for development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Dec 1.

He will stay on as permanent secretary for law.