SMU has announced a global search for a new President. SMU Chairman Ho Kwon Ping sent an e-mail to the faculty and staff announcing that current President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, who took over the helm seven years ago, has asked to step down by the end of next year. Mr Ho, in his e-mail to faculty, praised Prof De Meyer's leadership, saying that he had "more than delivered as President of the University, leading SMU through a new phase of growth and excellence in many important ways".

 Mr Ho added that as much as the Board of Trustees would have wanted Prof De Meyer to continue, the Board will also fully respect his decision to step down. However, at the Board’s request, Prof De Meyer has agreed to assume, on a part-time basis, a role in continuing to help shape SMU-X, an experiential learning programme where students tackle real-world problems by taking on projects from companies and community organisations.

 When asked about the decision to step down, Prof De Meyer said over the last few years, SMU has become a "multi-faceted university", adding more undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, providing continuing education for working adults and strengthening its research focus. He added, "By the end of next year, I would have been President of SMU for eight years. It is the right moment to hand over the reins to someone else who will lead the university through its next phase of growth."