Board hopes to finalise appointment of new CEO by end of January

KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd is hopeful of finalising the appointment of a new CEO by the end of January 2019.

FGV chairman Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid, who is serving as interim CEO, said he is hoping to find the right candidate to take over the reins and return to his original role.

“Temporarily I am taking the role of CEO simply because it is important for FGV not to have a gap on top. I appreciate that there are differing views to this in terms of governance because I am also chairman of the board.

“This. as we call it, is an interim measure we are taking, once we finalise the selection of CEO, I will withdraw myself and remain as non-executive chairman of the board,” he noted.

So far, the board has narrowed down one or two external candidates as options to fill in the position previously held by Datuk Zakaria Arshad, who resigned in September.

“Not too old, not too young. Somebody who is able to play the role, I think that is more important. What FGV is looking for is a person who will be able to play the role effectively and efficiently,” Azhar said when reporters pressed him further on the profile of the potential candidate.

Asked whether a background in plantation is required, Azhar said it is not necessary.

“Not necessarily, because you can learn but if you are talking about CFO, you want someone who is aggressive as well as strategic in terms of financial, management and planning and who is also able to develop internal people to a level that surpasses the average industry.

“We want a leader who has the appreciation of what is required from a big picture perspective,” he said.

Less than a month after Zakaria called it quits, CFO Ahmad Tifli Datuk Mohd Talha resigned to pursue other career opportunities.

The appointment of a CFO is expected to be finalised earlier than the CEO’s.