Kuala Lumpur, 30 June 2020 – Sime Darby Plantation (“SDP”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Hj Megat Najmuddin bin Datuk Seri Dr. Hj Megat Khas as Chairman of the Board of Directors (“the Board”) of the Company effective 1 July 2020. SDP also hereby announces that Tan Sri Dato’ A. Ghani Othman has stepped down as Chairman and member of the Board effective today.
Tan Sri Megat, 75, currently holds chairmanship in a number of publicly listed and private companies as well as non-governmental organisations including as Chairman of Asian Pac Holdings Berhad, SEG International Berhad, Green Venture Capital Sdn Bhd, Ulink Ascot Sdn Bhd and Malaysian Institute of Management. He is also the President of Federation of Public Listed Companies Berhad. Throughout his illustrious career spanning five decades, Tan Sri Megat has held numerous key positions in the public and private sectors including as Director of PETRONAS, as Chairman of Omesti Berhad, Tradewinds Corporation Berhad and Majuperak Holdings Berhad, as member of the National Economic Consultative Council 2 and Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee of Bank Negara Malaysia, and Honorary Patron of Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance of which he was its President from 1998 to 2015. He obtained his Honours Degree in Law from the University of Singapore in 1970.
“On behalf of SDP, I am delighted to welcome Tan Sri Megat as our Chairman at a time when the company is undergoing a crucial phase of its more than 100-year history as we lay out the foundation for our next stage of growth in our quest to be the leading integrated palm oil player” said Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SDP. “The entire family of Sime Darby Plantation expresses a deep and sincere appreciation to Tan Sri Dato’ A. Ghani Othman for his service and contributions since his appointment in 2013, guiding the company with his humble yet firm charisma and wealth of wisdom, throughout his seven-year tenure. It is with Tan Sri Ghani’s patient advice and judicious counsel that the company has overcome numerous challenges and lived through defining moments during this period including the Sime Darby Group demerger exercise in 2017 and the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis that we are all still riding through.”
(From left) Dato' Chang Khim Wah, Chief Executive Officer of Eco World Development Group Berhad; Norazhar Musa, Chief Executive Officer of NS Corporation; Dato’ Seri Aminuddin Harun, Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan; and Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie Berhad at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between NS Corporation, EcoWorld Development Group Berhad and SD Guthrie Berhad.