The Executive Yuan announced on May 31 that Chang Sheng-ford, former political deputy minister of finance, has been appointed to succeed Christina Y. Liu as finance minister.
The 63-year-old Chang holds a bachelor's degree in business from National Taiwan University, a master's in public finance from National Chengchi University and a master's in economics from the University of Iowa in the U.S.
Chang previously served at the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for more than 30 years, occupying various posts including executive secretary of the Taxation and Tariff Committee, director-general of the National Tax Administration of Northern Taiwan Province, director-general of the Taipei National Tax Administration, director-general of Taxation Agency, administrative deputy minister of the MOF and political deputy of the MOF. In 1986, he promoted the value-added tax, and in 1996 drafted the plan for Taiwan's integrated income tax system. He also served as chief secretary of the MOF's second tax reform committee from 1987 to 1989 and as executive secretary of the third tax reform committee from 2008 to 2009.
After retiring as deputy finance minister in February, Chang taught at Kainan University's Department of Business and Entrepreneurial Management and at National Taiwan University's Department of Accounting. His specialties are tax theory and practice.