New Chief Executive Appointed for CCS

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

24 SEPTEMBER 2013

(Go to MTI's Press Room)

Mr Toh Han Li will be appointed as the Chief Executive of the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS), taking over the helm from Ms Yena Lim who will be stepping down when her term ends on 30 September. The appointment will take effect from 1 October 2013.

Ms Yena Lim (林华欣)

2.            Ms Yena Lim has led the CCS since 2010. CCS has made significant progress under her leadership, issuing a number of infringement decisions on anti-competitive cases that have created important case precedents. She has led CCS to be more actively engaged with the business community and encouraged companies to voluntarily commit to stopping potentially anti-competitive conduct. She was strongly committed to increasing international cooperation between competition authorities in ASEAN and the rest of the world and helped to build CCS’s reputation as an innovative and well-respected competition authority.

3.            Ms Lim has a wealth of experience in the public sector, having worked as the Managing Director in the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Director appointments in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Transport, and the Prime Minister’s Office (Public Service Division), as well as other appointments in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. She was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2006 for her contributions to public service.

Toh Han Li (杜汉立)

4.            Mr Toh Han Li is currently the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal & Enforcement) at CCS. During his term, both the Competition Bar and Competition Law jurisprudence developed significantly with major legal precedents being established in the area of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and financial penalties. Mr Toh has represented CCS as its counsel in every appeal before the Competition Appeal Board.

5.            Mr Toh is a Singapore Legal Service officer. Prior to being seconded to CCS in 2009, he served in various positions in the public sector, including as a Justices’ Law Clerk to the Chief Justice and the Court of Appeal of Singapore, Deputy Public Prosecutor and State Counsel, Senior Assistant Registrar at the Supreme Court and Registrar, and District Judge of the Subordinate Courts. Mr Toh also serves on several tribunals including the Military Court of Appeal and the Copyright Tribunal.

6.            Mr Toh read law at Cambridge University on a President cum Overseas Merit Scholarship, obtained his Masters of Laws from the University of Chicago and also holds a Masters in Public Management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He is admitted to practice law in Singapore, England and New York. In 2010 he was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in recognition of his contribution to Public Service.

In Appreciation

7.            The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) extends its appreciation to Ms Yena Lim for her many contributions. Mr Ng How Yue, Second Permanent Secretary for MTI, said, “Under Yena’s leadership, CCS has developed a stronger and more robust competition regime for Singapore. Yena has also taken a proactive and strategic approach in business outreach to encourage voluntary compliance among businesses. We would like to extend Yena our best wishes in her future endeavours.”

8.            Mr Ng added, “Han Li is no stranger to CCS, having led the Legal and Enforcement Division of CCS as its Assistant Chief Executive since 2009. He has helped to refine Singapore’s legal framework and guidelines pertaining to the Competition Act. I look forward to working closely with Han Li as the next CE of CCS.”

9.            Mr Lam Chuan Leong, Chairman of CCS, said, “As the CEO, Yena has steered CCS successfully through some of its most challenging cases so far as well as raised CCS’s profile both regionally and internationally in the competition arena. Together with the rest of the Commission members, I wish Yena all the best in her next posting.”

Board Members of Competition Commission of Singapore (as of 1 October 2013)

Chairman
Mr Lam Chuan Leong
Chairman
Competition Commission of Singapore

Members
Mr Toh Han Li
Chief Executive
Competition Commission of Singapore

Mr Aedit Bin Abdullah
Chief Prosecutor (Criminal Justice Division)
Attorney-General’s Chambers

Ms Aileen Chia
Deputy Director-General, Telecoms & Post/
Strategic Policy & Finance
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore

Dr Andrew Khoo Cheng Hoe
Assistant Managing Director, External Department/MPIRD/MDMMD
Monetary Authority of Singapore

Prof Phang Sock Yong
Professor, School of Economics
Singapore Management University

Prof Tan Cheng Han, S.C.
Professor, Faculty of Law
National University of Singapore

Mrs Tan Ching Yee
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Health

Mr Wong Yew Meng
Former Audit Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers