Former Singapore Cabinet minister Khaw Boon Wan has retired as chairman of SPH Media Trust and SPH Media Holdings after five years in the role, marking the end of his involvement with the media organisation following his retirement from politics.
The 73-year-old stepped down on Oct. 1, 2026, as part of a leadership transition announced by SPH Media. He had served as chairman since May 2021, when the media operations of the former publicly listed Singapore Press Holdings were restructured into a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
Khaw was succeeded by SPH Media chief executive Chan Yeng Kit, 61, who took on the additional position of executive chairman of both SPH Media Trust and SPH Media Holdings while continuing as CEO. The expanded role gives Chan responsibility for both the organisation’s executive management and board leadership.
Khaw said earlier that he believed it was an appropriate time to wind down his involvement after SPH’s operations had stabilised. His departure follows a planned leadership renewal at the organisation after several years of restructuring and changes in the media industry.
His tenure began during a significant transformation for Singapore’s media sector. The restructuring separated SPH’s media business from its other operations and placed it under a company limited by guarantee, with the new structure intended to support the continued operation of the group’s news publications.
At the time Khaw was appointed, the former SPH was dealing with declining advertising revenue and print circulation. The company had reported an $83.7 million net loss for the financial year ended Aug. 31, 2020, before the media restructuring was completed.
During Khaw’s five years at the helm, SPH Media expanded its digital and multimedia operations while seeking to reach audiences across different platforms. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the organisation strengthened its digital capabilities and continued serving Singaporeans in the country’s four official languages during a period of major change in the media landscape.
Wong also thanked Khaw for taking on the chairmanship after his retirement from politics and for guiding the organisation through what he described as an important period of transition. The prime minister noted that Khaw had returned to public service in a different capacity after more than four decades of government service.
Khaw had retired from politics in 2020 after serving as coordinating minister for infrastructure and minister for transport. Before that, he held several senior government positions and was involved in major policy areas including housing, healthcare and infrastructure.
The latest leadership changes extend beyond the chairmanship. SPH Media deputy CEO Kuek Yu Chuang, 47, has been appointed managing director, with responsibility for the organisation’s day-to-day operations as well as its immediate- to medium-term growth plans. He will also join the boards of SPH Media Trust and SPH Media Holdings.
The organisation has also refreshed its board, with new directors joining SPH Media Holdings as several existing directors retire. The changes are part of a broader leadership transition as SPH Media continues to adapt to digital transformation, changing audience habits and a rapidly evolving media environment.
SPH Media operates several of Singapore’s major news publications, including The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu. The leadership transition therefore comes as the organisation continues to manage the challenges of sustaining journalism across print, digital and multimedia platforms.
With Khaw’s retirement, Chan now assumes a combined leadership role while Kuek takes charge of daily operations. The changes formally mark the next phase of SPH Media’s development following the restructuring and leadership period overseen by Khaw since 2021.
