Pillay served as the country's acting president for 13 days from 1 to 13 September 2017 as an interregnum between Tony Tan and Halimah Yacob during the 2017 Singaporean presidential election.

[1] His most significant contribution during his civil service was building Singapore Airlines (SIA) into a world-class carrier with a distinguished reputation.

[6][3] Few can match his record of public service in the Ministry of Finance, Temasek, GIC, MAS, MND and not to speak of SIA and SGX.

Pillay retired from civil service in March 1995 and subsequently served as the Singaporean High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Ambassador to Ireland until 1999.

[12][13] Pillay was then succeeded by Mr Lim Chee Onn as the next Chancellor of SMU with effect from 1 August 2019.

[20][21] In August 2019, Pillay was awarded the Order of Temasek (With Distinction), Singapore's highest civilian honour.