Dr Johan Arriffin Hj Samad new CEO of IDS
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin bin Datuk Hj A Samad has been appointed as the new CEO of Institute of Development Studies (IDS) effective December 1, 2018.
He will lead the autonomous research body with the primary mission to assist the government in meeting the needs and aspiration of the people through research and analysis on development issues.
Dr Johan has extensive experience working in multinational companies and spent 16 years with ExxonMobil before joining Yayasan Sabah as deputy director.
After leaving Yayasan Sabah, he started the technology company Dragonfly Robotix Sdn Bhd offering specialized services in aerial mapping and photography for clients like POIC, Sabah Ports Authority, international film companies and project developers.
He is also a well-known writer and columnist.
Dr Johan is an alumnus of University of South Australia where he attained his Doctorate in Business Administration. His academic research was in organizational change using soft system methodology, building of world class organization using benchmarking of best practices, process mapping and the development of learning organizations.
He holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing from University of Hull, UK and Diploma in Advanced Marketing from Bristol Polytechnic, UK. He is a life member and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Over the course of his professional career, Dr Johan has held several companies' directorship, which includes Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd, Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park, Asian Supply Base Sdn Bhd, Petrosab Sdn Bhd, and Yayasan Sabah Shipping.
Johan has also led the State oil and gas downstream planning under Malaysian Petroleum Resource Corporation (Pemandu).
Among his priorities as the new CEO is to enhance IDS human resource capability by exposing them to lifelong learning through training not only at the local but also at the international level. He is also keen to foster team building among IDS staff so as to transform them into excellent team players.
Johan sees this as vital to ensure IDS remains relevant in this digital era and able to perform its function as an independent research institute as well as a think tank to the state government of Sabah.
Furthermore, he is also concerned with issues such as poverty, national unity, oil royalty and Malaysia Agreement 1963 which are also the current concern of the state government and would like IDS to be prepared to embrace the challenges ahead in these research areas.