Sats’ gateway services to be helmed by three regional CEOs

SATS will put three regional chief executives at the helm of its gateway services business lines, including the operations of its recently-acquired air cargo handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS).

In a bourse filing on Thursday (June 15), it said that the Hong Kong and Singapore businesses of WFS will be helmed by Bob Chi, Sats’ chief executive of gateway services. He will also lead the Singapore hub and all Sats gateway services subsidiaries and associates in Asia and the Middle East.

WFS’ operations in Europe, Africa, Thailand and India will be led by John Batten, who is WFS’ chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The operations in the US, Canada, and Brazil will be overseen by Mike Simpson, WFS’ chief executive of the Americas.

Stanley Goh, chief executive of Sats Food Solutions, will lead the company’s food solutions businesses in Singapore, China, India, Thailand, Japan and the UK.

Sats’ announcement follows the recent departure of Craig Smyth, the chief executive of WFS, which Sats acquired for S$1.8 billion. Sats said that with the leadership changes, it is adopting a “global model” for operating and managing its gateway services.

The company also announced two key executive appointments in Thursday’s filing.

Henry Low, currently global head of special projects, will assume the role of chief operating officer from Jul 1. He will be responsible for key corporate functions including technology, data and analytics and operational excellence.

Sats has also appointed Tan Chee-Wei as its chief human capital officer. Previously Shell’s vice-president for human resources in North-east and South-east Asia and global lubricants, she will oversee all aspects of Sats’ global human capital strategy, including business partnering and talent acquisition.

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The changes in the organisational structure reflect Sats’ transition into a global company, said its chief executive Kerry Mok. “This will facilitate management alignment, enhance coordination and leverage the group’s combined capabilities across the globe,” he added.

Sats shares ended Thursday at S$2.59, up 0.4 per cent.