‘I am not leaving’: SMRT Trains CEO squashes rumours of his departure

SINGAPORE — Rail operator SMRT has refuted rumours that two members from its senior management are leaving its ranks.

On Saturday (June 15), The Straits Times (ST) had reported that SMRT Trains chief executive officer Lee Ling Wee was expected to hand over his post to Mr Lam Sheau Kai, a former Brigadier-General with the Singapore Armed Forces.

It also stated that Ms Dawn Low, the executive vice president of SMRT Experience, was expected to leave.

However, SMRT has since told TODAY that both Mr Lee and Ms Low will not be leaving their positions.

“Lee Ling Wee will continue to be chief executive officer, SMRT Trains, and concurrently managing director, SMRT TEL (Thomson-East Coast Line),” said Ms Margaret Teo, SMRT’s chief communications officer, in a statement on Monday.

“Dawn Low remains as executive vice president, SMRT Experience.”

According to Ms Low’s LinkedIn profile, she joined SMRT as the director of corporate marketing and communications, and has been with the company for close to 15 years.

In her current role, Ms Low oversees the rail operator’s retail and commercial operations.

Before Mr Lee joined SMRT in 2013 as its senior vice president of engineering and maintenance, he was the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s head of air engineering and logistics.

ST had said it was informed by unnamed sources that Mr Lee was “likely to leave” SMRT once Mr Lam “is ready to assume the helm” from him.

Mr Lam’s current LinkedIn profile states that he is the head of marketing and business development for MSI-Global, a position he has held since September last year.

According to the Land Transport Authority’s website, MSI-Global serves as its multi-disciplinary consultancy arm, which includes providing solutions for rail systems engineering.

The report stated that Mr Lam was “seconded” to SMRT in March and is the deputy managing director for the Thomson-East Coast MRT line.

SMRT has confirmed this, and added that Mr Lam reports directly to Mr Lee.

Weighing in on the matter himself, Mr Lee said that the recent media speculation about his departure from SMRT “is not true”.

“I enjoy working with my team and am fully committed to my work at SMRT. I am not leaving," he said.

TODAY has reached out to ST for comment.