SPH deputy CEO Anthony Tan exits

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) deputy chief executive Anthony Tan (pictured) is set to leave SPH from 7 December 2021. He will be joining MOH Holdings, the holding company of Singapore's public healthcare assets as managing director from 15 December 2021.

Tan joined SPH in 2015 to head up the company's Chinese Media Group as the executive vice-president, and took on the role of deputy CEO in July 2016. A year later he also took on the responsibility to lead the company's aged care business across Singapore and Japan. Tan currently oversees SPH’s media business which includes familiar names such as The Straits Times, The New Paper, Berita Harian, Tamil Murasu, Lianhe Zaobao, as well as SPH Magazines and the SPH Radio network. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out for a statement. 

Prior to his time at SPH, Tan also worked as deputy secretary (Policy) at Ministry of Health, and worked with various ministries such as Home Affairs, Finance and Manpower as well as the People's Association. Meanwhile, SPH chairman Lee Boon Yang said Tan was instrumental in driving SPH's digital transformation journey. He was also credited in strengthening the digital capabilities of its multiple media platforms and steering the company towards its “audience-first and customer-centric focus”.

The departure comes amidst the reorganisation of SPH's media business. The move to transfer the business to a company limited by guarantee (CLG) was first announced in May and SPH's shareholders voted in favour of the transfer last month to the CLG named SPH Media Trust. Also last month, Cuscaden Peak, a company formed by a consortium comprising Tiga Stars, Adenium, and Mapletree Fortress submitted a proposal to acquire Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), rivalling Keppel Corporation which first submitted its proposal in August. As part of the Proposed Acquisition, Cuscaden has agreed to pay SG$2.10 fully in cash for each share.

Last month, SPH posted a 69.8% increase in operating profit to SG$206.7 million for its non-media operations for the year ended 31 August 2021 (FY 2021). The improved performance was across all segments, including retail and commercial and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) despite the ongoing disruption from COVID-19, especially in the earlier part of the financial year.

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