SIA chief to go end of the year

SINGAPORE, (July 27, 2010) - We first reported it about two months ago about the impending departure of
Singapore Airlines (SIA) chief executive Chew Choon Seng and the two possible candidates groomed to take over.

Today, the national carrier confirmed Mr Chew will step down at the end of this year when his contract expires. The airline said in a brief statement to AFP that an announcement on Chew's replacement would be made once the board has made a decision on the candidate.

Mr Chew, 64, joined SIA in 1972 and rose through the ranks to become chief executive in 2003.
SIA just reported a first quarter net profit of S$253 million, a sharp reversal from the same period a year ago when SIA incurred a net loss of S$307 million, thanks to the global economic downturn.

In February, SIA announced changes to some senior management positions which took effect from March 1. What caught the eye was the re-deployment of senior executive vice-president Bey Soo Khiang - former Chief of Defence who, at one time, was seen by the market as the next in line for the hotseat – from operations and planning to marketing and corporate services.

In the same announcement, SIA also said that Mr Ng Chin Hwee, executive vice-president (human resources & planning), and Mr Mak Swee Wah, executive vice- president (operations & services), would report directly to Mr Chew.

The market talk is that the race to be SIA’s next CEO is a straight fight between Mr Ng and Mr Mak.