Singapore Airlines names 2 new Directors

Hsieh Tsun-yan and Gautam Banerjee were added to the Board on 1 September.

The Board of Singapore Airlines announced the appointment of .Hsieh Tsun-yan and Gautam Banerjee as Directors.

The global experience of Mr Hsieh, 59, in areas of corporate transformation and leader development will enable him to contribute to the Board of Singapore Airlines (SIA) in the areas of strategy, leadership and organisational processes. He will also bring strong analytical skill sets to strengthen the SIA Board. After the Board's review of Mr Hsieh's qualifications and experience (set out below), the Board approved the Board Nominating Committee's recommendation to appoint Mr Hsieh to the SIA Board as a non executive director.

Aside from being an Independent Non Executive Director, he will also be a Member of Board Audit Committee and Member of Board Compensation and Industrial Relations Committee, according to a Singapore Airlines report.

Mr Hsieh was Chairman of LinHart Group (Singapore), a leadership services firm founded by Mr Hsieh in 2008. The firm specializes in advising boards and counseling CEOs throughout Asia on issues of succession and leadership effectiveness at the top. From 1980 to 2008, Mr Hsieh was employed by McKinsey & Company, serving clients in many countries and industries in the areas of corporate transformation and leader development. His leadership positions in McKinsey included Chairman of Professional Development Committee, Managing Director, Canada and ASEAN practices, Chairman of Asia Client Committee, and the Directors Committee till he retired in 2008. Mr Hsieh founded McKinsey’s Leadership Services globally to help clients grow more, better leaders faster.

Meanwhile, Mr Banerjee, 57, has been with PwC Singapore for 30 years. With his extensive auditing, accounting, tax, risk management and corporate finance experience, Mr Banerjee will be a suitable member of the Board Audit Committee. After the Board's review of Mr Banerjee's qualifications and experience (set out below), the Board approved the Board Nominating Committee's recommendation to appoint Mr Banerjee to the SIA Board as a non executive director.

Mr Banerjee will be retiring as Executive Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Singapore on 1 January 2013. He joined PwC Singapore in April 1982 after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in London and was admitted to the partnership on 1 July 1989. He has led various business units in the firm, including its largest business unit, the Assurance practice. He has been with the firm for 30 years, including as Executive Chairman since 1 January 2004. During his 30 years with the firm, Mr Banerjee has been responsible for some of its largest clients such as Temasek and Singapore Telecom. He has also contributed significantly to the development of PwC Singapore from a predominantly audit and tax practice to a multidisciplinary professional services firm with capabilities in Risk Management, Corporate Finance and other business advisory services in Banking and Capital Markets, Telecommunications and Technology. Mr Banerjee was a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore from 2007 to 2009. He served as a member of the Economic Strategies Committee chaired by the Finance Minister of Singapore from 2009/2010.