The position of chairman of Chung-hwa Post is being temporarily filled by Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Jonathan Chen (陳純敬), the ministry said yesterday.
The vacancy was created when former Chunghwa Post chairwoman Lee Jih-chu (李紀珠) left the office to become the new chairperson of Taiwan Financial Holding Co.
Lee took office at the postal firm in February, becoming the company’s first chairwoman since its establishment in 1896.
However, she served the shortest term of all Chunghwa Post chairpersons at only six months. In a ceremony yesterday, Lee handed over the official seal to Chen, symbolizing the change of management.
Lee said in her farewell speech that she felt it was too sudden when she was told to report to her new position today, as she was still planning for her trip to visit postal firms in Singapore and Malaysia on Wednesday morning.
She said she had fond memories of her time at the postal firm, adding that it was pleasant to work with the company’s talented employees.
Lee also said that she has confidence in the postal firm as the company is seeking to change the way it operates, adding that it still has many business opportunities to explore despite challenges ahead.
“The mail delivery business is shrinking. The company also needs to compete with other financial institutions in terms of the businesses that the company was eager to branch out to. However, the postal firm’s advantages in terms of marketing and quality employees continue to exist,” she said.
While Lee described her appointment at Taiwan Financial Holding Co as “sudden” and “surprising,” it was not surprising after a statement she made in 2010, before Cabinet officials in charge of the nation’s financial sector and economy were reshuffled.
Lee, then deputy minister of the Financial Supervisory Commission, told the media that she was given four options for a new position, disclosing that one of them was as Taiwan Financial Holding Co chairwoman.
Regarding Chen, Lee said that she was relieved to know that the company would be in good hands after her departure.
Because of his background in civil engineering, Chen previously supervised the operation of the agencies related to sea and air transportation under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Chen said that he has to thank the minister of transportation and communications for giving him an opportunity to learn from a new field.
He said that Lee has specified 12 goals to be accomplished during her term, adding that he would start with those listed items and lead the company to growth.
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