EDB MD Chng Kai Fong to step down in Oct, succeeded by Jacqueline Poh

Chng Kai Fong, the managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will step down from the helm of the statutory board when his term ends in early October.

In a release issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Wednesday, it was also announced that his successor will be Jacqueline Poh, currently Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office's (PMO) Strategy Group.

MTI did not say where Mr Chng will be headed after his four-year stint at EDB is up, but his last day there will be Oct 3. Ms Poh will take over on Oct 4, but will be in EDB earlier - as MD-designate - on Sep 1.

Mr Chng will also be stepping down from the boards of EDB and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research on the same day that he relinquishes his EDB post. Ms Poh will take over his positions on both boards on Oct 4 as well.

Mr Chng's tenure at EDB started on Oct 1, 2017. Before that, he was the Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He had also held leadership roles at MTI, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Civil Service College.

MTI said that, under Mr Chng's leadership, EDB played a "pivotal role in shaping EDB's strategies" to address external and domestic challenges such as technology disruption, global tax reforms, climate change and Covid-19.

During Mr Chng's stint, MTI said that EDB "consistently met or exceeded" its key performance indicator targets for fixed asset investments (FAI), total business expenditure (TBE), and the creation of new jobs.

From 2018 to 2020 cumulatively, EDB secured commitments of S$43.3 billion in FAI and S$22 billion in TBE. These projects will result in the creation of 67,614 jobs in the coming years, said MTI.

Ms Poh, who has been in her current role at PMO since July 2018, was the founding chief of the Government Technology Agency as well as managing director of the former Infocomm Development Authority. She also sits on the board of SingHealth.

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