|
|
|
Dr Christopher Chia will be the
new Chief Executive Officer of Media Development Authority (MDA) with effect
from 1 June 2004.
|
|
He takes over from Mr Lim Hock
Chuan who will be posted to the Ministry of Home Affairs as Deputy Secretary
wef 1 June 04.
|
|
Dr Chia is currently the Chief
Executive of the National Library Board (NLB) which he has led as its founding
Chief Executive Officer since September 1995.
|
|
During his term, he has radically
and successfully transformed NLB to what it is today. Under Dr Chias
stewardship, annual library visitorship has grown sixfold to 31m; library
borrowing has tripled to over 32m annually and library membership has more
than doubled to 2.1m.
|
|
Today, the NLB libraries are
internationally known for their lifestyle focus and innovation, with the
introduction of many services for the benefit of its patrons, and with a
reputation for implementing innovative processes and systems such as the
patented Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) checkout terminals - a
world-first full-scale implementation.
|
|
Under his executive leadership, Dr
Chia has won the NLB many accolades and awards, such as the inaugural
Innovative Organisation of the Year in 2001, and the NLB has also been the
subject of case studies for service breakthrough in major business schools in
Singapore and abroad.
|
|
Dr Chia has spent 20 years in the
public sector in Singapore, with senior appointments ranging from IT R&D
management, IT manpower planning, postgraduate educational management and
business development.
|
|
He has a PhD in Computation from
the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) from
the United Kingdom and was recently granted the 2003 Alumnus of the Year by
UMIST. In 2001, he was awarded the International Management Action Award and
the Friend of IT by the Singapore Computer Society.
|
|
NLB will be seeking a new CEO to replace Dr
Christopher Chia.
|
|
Lim Hock Chuan was appointed CEO
of the Media Development Authority (MDA), in June 1997, when it was the
Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA). Under his able leadership, the SBA was
transformed into a significant statutory body for media development and
regulations. Mr Lim oversaw the implementation of many policy moves, and
introduced significant changes, which facilitated the development of the media
industry.
|
|
He was instrumental in bringing about the
early adoption of the digital European DVB and Eureka 147 standards. This
paved the way for the roll-out of digital TV and radio and the introduction of
the world's first commercial Digital Mobile TV in Singapore.
|
|
Mr Lim also contributed to the
liberalisation of the local broadcasting industry by working with local and
international broadcasters, to bring new services and offerings to local
audiences here. Local audiences are now well served by an array of seven free
to air TV channels, 26 analogue and digital radio channels and 40 cable TV
channels, compared to four TV, 16 radio channels and 34 cable channels in
1997. The same period also saw the number of satellite broadcasters based in
Singapore growing from eight to 17.
|
|
Last year, Mr Lim steered SBA
towards the smooth formation of MDA, through its merger with the Films and
Publications Department, and the Singapore Film Commission. Soon after merger,
Mr Lim led in the formulation and implementation of two major developments,
the introduction of a media competition code and the "Media 21"
blueprint. The competition code will be a major contribution towards healthy
competition in the media industry and help develop wider access to quality
media products and services for media consumers. The "Media 21"
blueprint, which is a strategic plan, will chart the course for
Singapores transformation into a Global Media City.
|
|
Under Mr Lim's leadership, business cost
issues have also been addressed. In line with MDA's pro-business outlook and
regulating with a light touch, which has become the norm under Mr Lim's
stewardship, a major revamp of the video licensing framework was undertaken
and large savings in business costs returned to video and cinema operators.
These have helped to bring industry costs down, especially during the economic
downturn.
|
|
Mr Lim leaves behind an MDA with a robust
foundation poised for further achievement as it continues in its role of
developing and regulating the media industry.
|
|
The Ministry of Information,
Communications and the Arts wishes Dr Christopher Chia and Mr Lim Hock Chuan
every success in their new jobs.
|
|
Source: MITA Press Release 18
Feb 2004
|
Media Development Authority appoints new CEO
