JTC Corporation nabs EDB MD Jacqueline Poh as CEO

JTC Corporation has appointed Economic Development Board's (EDB) managing director Jacqueline Poh as its new CEO, effective 1 April 2025. Poh will also be appointed as a member of the JTC Board in an ex-officio capacity. Poh succeeds Tan Boon Khai, who will be stepping down as CEO of JTC Corporation on 31 March 2025 to pursue other interests. 

Poh first took on the role of MD of EDB on 4 October 2021. Prior to EDB, Poh was deputy secretary in the Prime Minister's Office strategy group. She was also the founding chief executive of the government technology agency of Singapore (GovTech) and managing director of the former Infocommunications Development Authority (IMDA). She has also held key positions at the ministry of manpower, the ministry of finance and ministry of defence.

In her three-and-a-half-year tenure as MD of EDB, Poh led the organisation to achieve strong investment commitments as Singapore’s economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. This included record investment commitments in 2022 surpassing EDB’s targets. These accomplishments came amid a challenging global operating environment marked by technological disruption, global tax reforms, and geopolitical uncertainties impacting business decisions.

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Under her leadership, EDB worked closely with partner agencies to develop important areas like the digital economy, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, sustainability, innovation and leadership development. Poh also strengthened Singapore’s presence in key international business fora, and deepened EDB’s relationship with global leaders in key industries and corporations, especially in the technology and startup space, according to a statement seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE. 

Meanwhile, Tan joined JTC on 1 Sep 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis. In his four-and a half- year tenure, Tan led JTC in delivering a number of COVID-19 response measures in industries that were critical to the overall national effort to stay resilient and to recover strongly. He then spearheaded a series of transformations to advance Singapore’s industrial makeup and to support growth of new industry clusters.

Under his leadership, JTC completed next-generation industrial estates such as Punggol Digital District, as well as key industrial buildings such as CleanTech Three, TimMac@Kranji, Kranji Green and Defu Industrial City to support industrial growth. Tan also led the push on the building of new estates such as the Jurong Innovation District and Woodlands North Coast, while anchoring preservation and adaptive reuse as a key consideration in the rejuvenation of aging industrial estates in the redevelopment of Singapore’s industrial sector. He was instrumental in enhancing stakeholder engagement and innovation in JTC and drove broader productivity in operations through use of digitalisation and technology adoption, said the statement.

Jeffrey Siow, second permanent secretary for ministry of trade and industry (MIT), said, “Tan has made significant contributions to JTC during his tenure as CEO. Under his leadership, JTC drove the planning and development of future-ready industrial infrastructure, which supported the growth of our industries and companies. He was also a key leader of MTI’s efforts to help our businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic."

"I thank Tan for his service and wish him all the best for his next endeavour. I also welcome Poh to JTC. Already part of the MTI Family, Poh has a deep understanding of investor needs which will help in her new role to develop attractive and innovative industrial land and spaces. I am confident that Poh will build on Tan’s good work to advance Singapore’s industrial infrastructure," he added. 

This appointment comes as EDB concluded its creative and social pitch for Singapore Global Network in November last year. The entity appointed TSLA to handle its social media and creative services for one year with the option to extend for another one year in whole or in part. 

Under the remit, TSLA will have to work with SGN to drive its social media content marketing efforts. This includes social media content and campaign planning, ideation and development.

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