Experience in legal, health sectors lands Tay NKF hot seat
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Jasmine Yin
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg
IT WAS probably one of the toughest job hunts in Singapore.
So imagine the surprise of Mr Gerard Ee, chairman of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), when he found 10 letters in his mailbag from potential applicants keen to occupy the hot seat of permanent chief executive officer at the foundation.
But what caught his eye among this pile of job applications — mostly from retired professionals with a background in accountancy or management — was a submission in January by Mrs Eunice Tay (picture), 57, then the chief operating officer from the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI).
"None of them had this combination of a legal background and years' of experience in the private and public sector in healthcare. She was the only one who had this and I can only say it's a godsend," Mr Ee said during a press conference yesterday.
He said her legal background could be useful in light of the civil case the NKF has filed against its former CEO T T Durai, as well as some former board members and staff.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the eloquent Mrs Tay — who takes over from interim CEO Professor Goh Chee Leok, who was seconded since last July from the National Skin Centre — stated her aims for the NKF: Transparency, donor accountability and affordable patient care.
"We must be accountable to all our donors. We will be transparent and be affordable to all our patients. We will constantly review how we can become more cost-efficient and cost-effective," she said. "Whatever savings we have, we will do our utmost to pass on to our patients."
Two weeks into the job, she has already visited 15 of the foundation's 21 dialysis centres islandwide to meet patients and learn the workings of the centres. She stressed that patient care will be the focus of the NKF under her leadership.
Mrs Tay, who is married to a pastor and has no children, was in the legal practice from 1986 to 1990. She joined the healthcare industry in 1991 and in 1994, was appointed special assistant to the Parkway Group Healthcare's managing director before crossing to the NNI three years later.
Mrs Tay said she was motivated to join the NKF after reading media reports about the beleaguered foundation — arguably the largest charity in Singapore — late last year.
"When I read in the press about what had happened and the resignation of the former CEO, I just felt so sorry for the patients and the people working at the NKF. I wanted to reach out to help them.
"So, when I read in the papers at the end of last year that they were looking for a permanent CEO, I decided to apply," she said.
"I met up with Prof Goh and submitted my application through him ... subsequently, he arranged for me to meet up with Mr Ee. And, as they say, the rest is history."
Currently on a three-year contract, Mrs Tay can be offered an open contract by the NKF when this term is up, as with the case for all NKF staff under the foundation's human resources policy.
Mr Durai's remuneration package — which included first-class air tickets and a fleet of chauffeured cars — was widely slammed as being extravagant and sparked off much public anger.
As new CEO, Mrs Tay's remuneration package will work out to be one-third of what Mr Durai, who is now facing a criminal and a civil lawsuit, received.
She will earn $13,500 a month, plus perks such as health insurance. She will also enjoy an annual bonus of a month's salary and up to two months in performance bonus, similar to what other staff members at the NKF are getting.
When asked if she was getting a pay cut to work for the NKF, Mrs Tay said that she would be paid "the same" as she was at her former workplace.
Mr Ee, who said that it was important "she will not lose out coming over here", added that her pay package was reviewed and given the go-ahead by a remuneration committee set up by the current NKF board.
Mr Ee also revealed that the NKF Children's Medical Fund will be hived off to a voluntary welfare organisation soon. He also commended Prof Goh for "his committed and dedicated leadership", which had helped the NKF "steadily regain the public's confidence".
Meanwhile, Mr Ee is prepping himself to represent the NKF at the upcoming civil case. The lawsuit was filed to recover $12 million the current NKF board had assessed to be improperly paid or used by the former board and management. "When it's a single representative that's required, the buck stops with the chairman. I don't (like it), but it has to be done," he said.
Jasmine Yin
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg
IT WAS probably one of the toughest job hunts in Singapore.
So imagine the surprise of Mr Gerard Ee, chairman of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), when he found 10 letters in his mailbag from potential applicants keen to occupy the hot seat of permanent chief executive officer at the foundation.
But what caught his eye among this pile of job applications — mostly from retired professionals with a background in accountancy or management — was a submission in January by Mrs Eunice Tay (picture), 57, then the chief operating officer from the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI).
"None of them had this combination of a legal background and years' of experience in the private and public sector in healthcare. She was the only one who had this and I can only say it's a godsend," Mr Ee said during a press conference yesterday.
He said her legal background could be useful in light of the civil case the NKF has filed against its former CEO T T Durai, as well as some former board members and staff.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the eloquent Mrs Tay — who takes over from interim CEO Professor Goh Chee Leok, who was seconded since last July from the National Skin Centre — stated her aims for the NKF: Transparency, donor accountability and affordable patient care.
"We must be accountable to all our donors. We will be transparent and be affordable to all our patients. We will constantly review how we can become more cost-efficient and cost-effective," she said. "Whatever savings we have, we will do our utmost to pass on to our patients."
Two weeks into the job, she has already visited 15 of the foundation's 21 dialysis centres islandwide to meet patients and learn the workings of the centres. She stressed that patient care will be the focus of the NKF under her leadership.
Mrs Tay, who is married to a pastor and has no children, was in the legal practice from 1986 to 1990. She joined the healthcare industry in 1991 and in 1994, was appointed special assistant to the Parkway Group Healthcare's managing director before crossing to the NNI three years later.
Mrs Tay said she was motivated to join the NKF after reading media reports about the beleaguered foundation — arguably the largest charity in Singapore — late last year.
"When I read in the press about what had happened and the resignation of the former CEO, I just felt so sorry for the patients and the people working at the NKF. I wanted to reach out to help them.
"So, when I read in the papers at the end of last year that they were looking for a permanent CEO, I decided to apply," she said.
"I met up with Prof Goh and submitted my application through him ... subsequently, he arranged for me to meet up with Mr Ee. And, as they say, the rest is history."
Currently on a three-year contract, Mrs Tay can be offered an open contract by the NKF when this term is up, as with the case for all NKF staff under the foundation's human resources policy.
Mr Durai's remuneration package — which included first-class air tickets and a fleet of chauffeured cars — was widely slammed as being extravagant and sparked off much public anger.
As new CEO, Mrs Tay's remuneration package will work out to be one-third of what Mr Durai, who is now facing a criminal and a civil lawsuit, received.
She will earn $13,500 a month, plus perks such as health insurance. She will also enjoy an annual bonus of a month's salary and up to two months in performance bonus, similar to what other staff members at the NKF are getting.
When asked if she was getting a pay cut to work for the NKF, Mrs Tay said that she would be paid "the same" as she was at her former workplace.
Mr Ee, who said that it was important "she will not lose out coming over here", added that her pay package was reviewed and given the go-ahead by a remuneration committee set up by the current NKF board.
Mr Ee also revealed that the NKF Children's Medical Fund will be hived off to a voluntary welfare organisation soon. He also commended Prof Goh for "his committed and dedicated leadership", which had helped the NKF "steadily regain the public's confidence".
Meanwhile, Mr Ee is prepping himself to represent the NKF at the upcoming civil case. The lawsuit was filed to recover $12 million the current NKF board had assessed to be improperly paid or used by the former board and management. "When it's a single representative that's required, the buck stops with the chairman. I don't (like it), but it has to be done," he said.
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