Zee Yoong Kang to take over as HPB’s CEO

SINGAPORE: Mr Zee Yoong Kang will take over as CEO of the Health Promotion Board (HPB) on 1 March, when current CEO Ang Hak Seng leaves to head the People’s Association (PA).

Mr Ang will replace Mr Yam Ah Mee as PA’s chief executive director.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday that Mr Zee will be appointed as CEO—designate on 15 February.

Mr Zee is the founding CEO of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) LearningHub, as well as the founding CEO of NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

He joined NTUC in 2003 and had served as director (JobLink) and director (Job Re—creation Department).

Under his leadership, NTUC LearningHub was transformed from an in—house training department into the largest training services provider in Singapore, with business operations in China and the Middle East.

Prior to joining NTUC, Mr Zee had worked at Bain and Co as a management consultant, handling merger projects and marketing penetration strategies.

He was with the Singapore Administrative Service from 1993 to 1999.

Mr Zee received his Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) (Honours) from Oxford University, and a Master of Business Administration (Honours) from the University of Chicago.

MOH said with his proven track record in engaging diverse stakeholders at NTUC, Mr Zee will play an integral role in encouraging Singaporeans to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The ministry also thanked Mr Ang for leading HPB in many initiatives to encourage healthy living.

MOH said Mr Ang has rallied stakeholders, such as the grassroots committees, to reach out to the community.

He has also been a driving force in making health screening more convenient, easier and affordable for Singaporeans.

Mr Lucas Chow, HPB’s chairman, said: "Hak Seng has brought health promotion to a wide cross—section of Singapore society to a new height within a short period of time.

"This is evident from the successful implementation of various strategic programmes to engage the communities —— for example, making healthier food more accessible to Singaporeans through the Healthier Hawker Centre Programme and enhancing our national tobacco control programme through the World Conference on Tobacco or Health held in Singapore in 2012.

"His dedication and contributions will be missed. We wish him all the best in his new role. We are pleased to have Yoong Kang taking over the helm from Hak Seng and look forward to another exciting chapter for HPB under the new leadership."

— CNA/de