‘Very disappointed’ and ‘aggrieved’: Third senior executive fired by SingPost contests move

THE third C-suite executive fired by Singapore Post (SingPost) last week has contested the move, calling it “without merit”.

Li Yu, chief executive of SingPost’s international business unit before the dismissal, said in a LinkedIn post dated Tuesday (Dec 24) that he was “very disappointed” and “aggrieved” by SingPost’s allegations and decision.

“I am very disappointed by the company’s decision and aggrieved that the company has thought it fit to levy such allegations against me, which were wholly unnecessary,” he wrote.

In comments to The Business Times on Thursday, Yu added: “At this moment, I have nothing else to comment apart from the statement I put out. There’s not much I can say.”

The national postal service provider announced on Sunday that it terminated the employment of group chief executive Vincent Phang, group chief financial officer Vincent Yik, and Yu a day earlier.

The company said it found the trio “grossly negligent” in the handling of internal investigations over a whistle-blower’s report that SingPost received earlier this year.

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Yu said he categorically rejected all statements of such conduct, and would contest the reasons for his termination. He added that he would enforce his legal rights and vindicate his reputation.

“As the company has escalated the matter despite my desire to resolve matters amicably, I am left with no option but to take affirmative steps to contest the termination of my employment and the alleged reasons, as well as the alleged disciplinary proceedings, which were neither due nor fair,” he added.

Phang and Yik said they would “vigorously contest” the decision in a joint statement issued late on Sunday.

The shock announcement led SingPost’s shares to tank 10.7 per cent on Monday, but they bounced 3 per cent the following day.

The so-called Parcelgate scandal and sudden exit of the trio also cast doubt on whether SingPost’s plan to divest its Australian business would be affected. The buyer, Australia-based private equity fund Pacific Equity Partners, told BT on Tuesday that the deal is “on track”.

As at 10.45 am on Thursday, SingPost gained S$0.01 or 1.9 per cent to S$0.525.