SPH restructures digital teams, brings in new tech and product chiefs

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has restructured its technology teams, which sees Julian Tan (pictured centre), current head of the digital division, focusing on growing SPH's portfolio of investments in digital businesses. Reporting to SPH CEO Ng Yat Chung, Tan will be redesignated as chief of digital business.In conjunction with the move, SPH has also appointed Glen Gary Francis (pictured right) as its chief technology office (CTO) and Gaurav Sachdeva (pictured left) as its chief product officer (CPO).Francis will join as CTO with effect from 21 May 2018, reporting to Ng. As CTO, he will be responsible for the technologies and digital capabilities for SPH’s businesses. He will initially focus on overseeing the digital technology team which is responsible for SPH’s suite of digital media products such as The Straits Times, The Business Times and Lianhe Zaobao.Subsequently, he will also take over the IT Division with effect from 1 August 2018, taking over from Low Huan Ping, the current EVP of the IT Division, who will assist in the transition before retiring in October 2018. Francis brings with him over 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Prior to joining SPH, he was the founder and president of CIO Academy Asia and is also the former group CIO of Global Logistics Properties.Meanwhile, Sachdeva, who joins as CPO with effect from 14 May 2018, will report to Anthony Tan, deputy CEO of SPH. His role will see him working with the Media Group division on the vision, design, development and monetisation of its digital media content and products. Apart from leading a team of product managers, he will also work closely with Francis' technology team on bringing the best-in-class products to SPH’s audience, the statement added.Sachdeva brings with him around 14 years of experience in technology companies, with nine years in managing product development and five years as a senior research and development engineer. He was most recently the head of product for growth hacking & innovation, and chief-of-staff for products at Grab. Prior to that, he was product management leader for Autodesk (Asia) Inc.