Petaling Jaya, 26 January 2024 - Sime Darby Plantation (SDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad as the Group Chief Operating Officer, effective from 1^st January 2024.

In his new role, Mr. Haris will oversee the operations of Upstream Malaysia, Upstream Indonesia, and Upstream Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands.

Mr. Haris will also continue to serve as the Managing Director of Sime Darby Oils, where he will lead the efforts in market expansion and revenue growth.

“This new appointment signals Sime Darby Plantation’s readiness for the future. Building upon the achievements of the past, Haris’s leadership will be instrumental in navigating our business through the opportunities and challenges we face as an organisation with a global footprint. As we undergo rapid growth across our supply chain and introduce new technologies into existing pathways, we eagerly anticipate a new era of operational excellence under Haris’ guidance”, said SDP’s Group Managing Director, Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.

In addition to his core responsibilities, Haris will spearhead various key corporate exercises for the Group. These projects are integral parts of SDP’s journey towards operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and innovation.

“I am also pleased to announce the formation of the Operations Leadership Team (OLT), effective from 1 February, which will be chaired by Mr. Haris. The OLT will consist of the three Chief Executive Officers responsible for our Upstream operations, the Chief Operating Officer of Sime Darby Oils, and the Chief Research & Development Officer. The OLT is instrumental in ensuring seamless alignment and coordination of our strategic efforts”, added Mohamad Helmy.

Mr. Haris joined the Group in 2014 as Head of Trading & Marketing and also led the Plantation Division’s Downstream Manufacturing Division. He was appointed Managing Director of Sime Darby Oils in March 2019.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Mr. Haris began his professional journey in 1995 as a trader with Cargill in Malaysia, focusing on palm oil and palm products trading. Later, he held several key global and regional roles in cocoa procurement, commodity risk management, and oils and fats procurement at Nestle and Unilever.

Mr. Haris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona (1994) and attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at the Harvard Business School in 2019.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of Sime Darby Plantation. As a group, we shall remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of service that our customers expect and deserve. Together, with the talented teams we have, I am confident that we will achieve sustained growth and further enhance our position as a leader in the industry”, Haris Arshad said.