It was not just Bertha. This is the guy who was considered the business brains and despite it being a print monopoly. When asked to compete in the digital space and compete for the very firs time in his life, he failed miserably. His projections, targets and pricing was way off. And he did not quit. Wee Cho Yaw wanted him out for the mess. They just pushed him aside and he had no choice but to retire.
SPH Marketing stalwart retires in April 2005 Veteran editor to take over
SINGAPORE, 1 October 2004 - Mr Tham Khai Wor, Senior Executive Vice President of Marketing, will retire from Singapore Press Holdings on 1 April 2005 after 33 years of service, the media group announced today.
Mr Tham’s position will be taken over by Mr Leslie Fong, 55, presently the Editor-at-Large of The Straits Times. He will be appointed Executive Vice President of Marketing from 1 April 2005.
Mr Tham, 60, joined the SPH Group as a Management Assistant with Times Printers Sdn Bhd on 1 February 1972. He moved rapidly up the ranks and was promoted to General Manager on 1 April 1979. In April 1984, he was transferred to SPH Marketing and has headed the Division since.
In his statement announcing Mr Tham’s retirement, CEO of SPH, Mr Alan Chan said: "In his 21 years with SPH Marketing, Khai Wor has contributed much to the success and growth of our newspaper business. It is his desire to retire at this time to pursue his own interests, and I have, with regret, accepted his decision.
"On behalf of the SPH Board of Directors, Management and all staff, I take this opportunity to wish Khai Wor good health and many happy years ahead." But SPH will retain Mr Tham as a consultant to the Marketing Division after his retirement, said Mr Chan.
On his decision to retire, Mr Tham said: "I have had a very challenging and fulfilling career with SPH, but I feel now is as good a time as any to move on and pursue some of my own personal interests.
"I leave with the comfort of knowing that my successor Leslie, who knows the newspaper publishing business well, will do his best to further the interests of the SPH Group. I also want to thank SPH Management for giving me the opportunity to grow in my job, and to all staff in Marketing Division for the trust and support they have given me."
Mr Fong, a veteran editor who has been with SPH for 35 years, will work with Mr Tham from 1 January 2005 to ensure a smooth transition until he assumes the new appointment on 1 April 2005.
He said of his new position: "With humility, I accept this new challenge. I will give it my best shot.
"I’m sad, of course, at having to leave journalism, especially writing. But the opportunity to learn more about and, hopefully, master a different but equally important part of newspaper operations, is too hard to resist."
Mr Fong has held various editorial appointments in the Group, including Editor of The Straits Times and The Sunday Times and Chairman of the Editorial Board of Shin Min Daily News.
Said CEO Alan Chan: "Leslie´s experience in newspapers will be a great asset for him in his new appointment. I have every confidence in his ability to take on this new challenge."
Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Limited
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