Petaling Jaya, 30 June 2023 - Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani as Chairman, today.

Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani has served as a member of the Board since 16 June 2022. He was appointed Interim Chairman of SDP following the retirement of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Megat Najmuddin Datuk Seri Dr Haji Megat Khas at the Annual General Meeting held on 15 June 2023.

Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani practices with Zaid Ibrahim & Co., Malaysia's largest law firm, and a member of KPMG's Global Legal Services network comprising 3,200 lawyers across 84 jurisdictions. He has expertise in a vast range of areas including Islamic finance, banking, offshore finance, debt restructuring, as well as international, corporate and commercial law. He provides legal counsel for mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and the issuance of private debt securities, including Islamic financial instruments.

Before joining Zaid Ibrahim & Co., he worked at international law firm Baker & McKenzie. In 2017, he was appointed Chairman of the Malaysia-Singapore Business Council by the Ministry of International Trade & Industry.

Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani is currently Chairman of the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad and T7 Global Berhad as well as a Director of several public companies including Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad, Cagamas Holdings Berhad and Pertama Digital Berhad.

Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani obtained his LL.B (Hons) from the University of Buckingham, LL.M from Queen Mary College, University of London; and Ph.D in Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and is a Barrister at Law, Lincoln’s Inn. He was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at Harvard Law School from 1996 to 1997, and a Chevening Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University from 2004 to 2005.

“Tan Sri Nik takes the reign at a pivotal time in SDP’s transformational journey in the palm oil industry. He has been a strong proponent of our ongoing initiatives in mechanisation, automation and digitalisation. Under his guidance and leadership, we look forward to the opportunities ahead, steadfast in our commitment to maximising value for our shareholders”, said Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, SDP’s Group Managing Director.