IMDA chief executive Tan Kiat How to step down

SINGAPORE — Mr Tan Kiat How, the chief executive officer of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), is stepping down, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) announced on Monday (June 15).

He will be replaced by Mr Lew Chuen Hong, who was Chief of Navy in the Singapore Armed Forces, from June 20. Mr Lew joined IMDA as its deputy chief executive officer for development last month.

Mr Tan was appointed chief executive officer of IMDA in 2017 to lead the merger of the Infocomm Development Authority and Media Development Authority to form IMDA, which oversees the digitalisation of industries and businesses in Singapore.

IMDA is an agency under MCI.

Mr Tan has been tipped as a potential candidate for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in the upcoming General Election, which must be held by April next year.

He made an appearance in his capacity as IMDA chief in a webinar on building a digital future on Saturday. The event was hosted by the Members of Parliament for East Coast Group Representation Constituency and Fengshan.

In response to queries by TODAY on his plans and whether he will run in the upcoming General Election, Mr Tan said that his plans were still being firmed up.

“It will be premature to share (my plans) now. Covid-19 is indeed the crisis of our generation, but it also opens up new opportunities for us,” he said in an emailed response to TODAY on Monday.

“I will want to continue leveraging my experience, especially in the area of digital technology, to contribute to this effort.”

Mr Tan added that with his first child due this August, he will be taking a short break to spend time with his wife and prepare for his baby’s arrival.

In its press statement, MCI said that Mr Tan established the SG Digital Office under IMDA last month to reach out to less digitally savvy segments in the community, such as seniors and hawkers, to help them acquire digital skills.

Under his direction, IMDA also built up Singapore’s connectivity infrastructure by rolling out the fourth telco and awarding spectrum for the deployment of fifth-generation mobile networks.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran thanked Mr Tan for his contributions.

“Under Kiat How’s leadership, IMDA has furthered Singapore's digital economy ambition, building ties with like-minded partners through international collaborations like Digital Economy Agreements, to boost Singapore's economic competitiveness and ensure that we remain future-ready,” said Mr Iswaran.

He also noted Mr Tan’s role in fostering a digitally inclusive society by “keeping a close sense of the ground” to address people’s concerns about going digital.

“I thank Kiat How for his many contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. I also would like to welcome Chuen Hong to the MCI family, and I look forward to working with him,” said Mr Iswaran.

Mr Tan’s departure from IMDA follows that of another public servant who has been tipped as a candidate for the PAP in the upcoming election.

Mr Desmond Tan Kok Ming, who has been chief executive director of the People’s Association (PA) since 2017, will leave the public service when his tenure with PA ends on Monday.