Khaw Boon Wan to step down as SPH Media Trust chairman

This has helped relieve the short-term profit and dividend pressures that the previous listed company faced.

Progress on revenue, reach and reputation

The CLG has not wasted the last five years, said Khaw.

SPH Media today reaches nearly nine in 10 digital and print readers across Singapore on a weekly basis through its multi-channel, multi-platform, multi format and multi-tonal portfolio strategy, he noted.

This comprehensive approach proved effective during major national moments. In particular, SPH Media’s coverage of the 2025 General Elections and year-long SG60 celebrations received extensive digital and social media viewership, said Khaw.

The CLG also enhanced its digital products, such as the redesign of The Straits Times app, and refresh of the Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu apps. Regular community initiatives have also been started to engage the youth, senior and vernacular audience segments.

“Fellow publishers around the world have noted SPH’s achievements. The many awards that our news titles picked up are reassuring evidence,” he said.

“This included coveted awards in very competitive fields given out by news industry associations like the International News Media Association (INMA) and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).”

Khaw said he was especially pleased with the achievements of the management team led by Chan, which has sharpened SPH Media’s mission, updated its strategy and achieved significant digital transformation within the organisation.

“While the media landscape remains fragmented, the CLG has made good progress,” he said. “Credit must go to the SPH colleagues, as well as the Government which supports us meaningfully in both capacity and capability development.”

Renewal and succession

Noting that he would be over 78 at the next General Election, Khaw said it was not wise for him to still be at the helm of an important institution then.

“With Mr Chan Yeng Kit and his team firmly established, this is the right time to move aside,” he said in a written interview.

“They will then have enough time to further consolidate the trust and credibility with the audience, the newsrooms and our stakeholders. Then we can be confident of a strong team to take SPH through the next GE cycle and other national events.”

Some board directors have also asked to step aside so that fresh expertise and experience could be tapped, though some will stay on to help his successor, said Khaw.

He expressed his gratitude to his fellow board directors who stepped forward to help with the restructure and transformation of SPH’s media business.

The process of leadership refresh and renewal is also ongoing at both the newsrooms and executive level, with senior executives being groomed to take on larger roles, including as chief executive eventually, noted Khaw. More details will be shared in due course.

Chan will be the first SPH Media chairman who was not a former Cabinet minister.

Asked if this might affect SPH Media’s engagement with the Government, Khaw said it was useful but not necessary for the chairman to be a former minister.

The key is to have someone with a good track record and who is well trusted by the Government, and Chan fits the bill well, he added.

Prior to joining SPH Media, Chan’s roles included permanent secretary of the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, and founding chairman of the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

Khaw said: “His background in new media and technology, in fact, puts him ahead of me. He has an edge over me. I am confident he and his team will do well.”