The Executives

NexG Bhd, the company behind Malaysia’s secure passports and MyKad, has restructured its leadership following a recent boardroom dispute. Under the new structure, Ishak Ismail has been appointed executive chairman, while Abu Hanifah Noordin has been named deputy executive chairman and group CEO. Ishak Ismail is now executive chairman while NexG Bhd founder Abu Hanifah Noordin is group chief executive officer. Ishak, a substantial shareholder through a family trust, said his involvement reflects a long-term commitment. He is reported to hold a 20.4% stake via an air cargo company controlled by his sons, while Hanifah holds 9.579%. “Our role ensures that NexG, which operates sensitive national identification systems including MyKad, passports, biometric technologies, and broader data platforms, remains stable, well-governed, and secure,” Ishak said. He emphasized that NexG provides the technology, while personalisation and issuance remain fully under government control, maintaining the integrity of the systems. Ishak added that Hanifah, the company’s founder, “understands the business, its technology, and operations better than anyone” and is the right person to lead NexG, strengthen its capabilities, and expand beyond Malaysia. The leadership changes come after a recent tussle between competing shareholder groups, which resulted in several directors resigning and raised governance concerns. The new structure is aimed at stabilizing the company and safeguarding its operations.

Nor Arieni Adriena Mohd Ritzal, founder of Gula Cakery Group Sdn Bhd, shares her journey from baking at home to building a multi-outlet café brand, along with insights on scaling operations, managing rising costs, and expanding beyond the Klang Valley. Nor Arieni Adriena Mohd Ritzal, founder of Gula Cakery Group Sdn Bhd. 1. Could you share about your own background and what led you to enter the baking and F&B world to start your own business?   My journey into the F&B industry was not a straight line. I began my academic path in Early Childhood Education and worked as a teacher, a role that shaped my patience, discipline, and appreciation for nurturing people. Teaching instilled in me the importance of structure, consistency, and creating meaningful experiences — values that later became the foundation of how I built and continue to run Gula Cakery today. Alongside teaching, food had always been a significant part of my life. I started baking as a teenager, learning from my grandmother’s recipe book, and quickly realised that baking offered the same fulfilment as teaching. It was hands-on, creative, and allowed me to bring joy to others. As this passion grew, I pursued formal culinary and baking courses to strengthen my technical skills and deepen my understanding of food. In 2009, I began baking from home, selling to friends and family, conducting baking classes, and participating in local bazaars. With strong support from my mother, especially in the early days of running classes from home, I gradually built the confidence to turn this passion into a business. By 2015, I made the decision to fully transition into the F&B industry and opened the first Gula Cakery outlet in Kota Kemuning. What started as a small café offering homemade cakes and comforting meals has since grown into 18 outlets across Malaysia. Despite this growth, the heart of Gula Cakery remains unchanged — a brand rooted in care, consistency, and community, with the aim of bringing people together through food made with intention and love. 2. What was the experience like developing and launching the first Gula Cakery outlet in 2015?   When I first started Gula Cakery, there were no established suppliers or systems in place. We were truly building everything from the ground up. I was in the kitchen baking, personally sourcing ingredients, and managing orders with the support of my family. It was chaotic at times, but immensely rewarding. The positive response from customers and their love for our cakes made every challenge worthwhile. The brand was built on passion and perseverance, growing one cake at a time. 3. What were the biggest operational challenges you faced when expanding from a few outlets to double-digit branches?   Scaling from a handful of outlets to double figures required a fundamental rethink of our operations. Our primary challenge was maintaining consistency in taste, service, and overall customer experience across every location. To address this, we made deliberate investments in training, robust standard operating procedures, and scalable systems, while maintaining disciplined cash-flow management throughout the expansion phase. 4. How do you decide on new locations, and what metrics matter most when evaluating expansion opportunities?   Our expansion decisions are driven by a disciplined, data-led approach centred on customer demand, accessibility, and long-term community alignment. We assess each location based on footfall patterns, demographic profiles, purchasing power, and strategic fit with our brand values. Gula Cakery performs strongest in environments where customers actively seek comfort food, connection, and a consistently welcoming experience. 5. What lessons have you learned from opening new branches that you wish you had known earlier?   Growth must be paced with readiness. Expanding too quickly without the right systems and leadership depth can dilute performance and strain resources. As we scale, localising menus and strengthening leadership capability have proven critical to maintaining quality and consistency. 6. What advice would you give aspiring F&B founders who are starting today in a more crowded market?   Focus on authenticity and clear differentiation. Build a strong operational foundation, exercise disciplined financial management, and be prepared to remain hands-on across all aspects of the business, particularly during the growth phase. 7. Rising costs have impacted many F&B operators. How are you managing this?   We mitigate cost pressures by diversifying our supplier base, strengthening local sourcing, optimising recipes, and reducing wastage. While selective price adjustments are sometimes necessary, we remain focused on delivering value, consistent quality, and a strong overall customer experience. 8. How are you addressing labour shortages and retention?   To address this, we’ve invested in structured training programmes that allow us to develop talent internally rather than relying solely on experienced hires. Retention is equally important, so we emphasise career progression, fair remuneration, and a supportive work culture. We also provide opportunities for staff to learn beyond their roles — for example, exposure to baking classes or management training — which keeps them motivated and engaged. 9. How is Gula Cakery redefining customer loyalty today?   Customer loyalty is built on emotional connection rather than transactional incentives alone. We prioritise meaningful experiences, active community engagement, and consistent delivery to foster long-term brand affinity. 10. Why do many F&B businesses fail today?   One major factor is underestimating the importance of financial discipline. Many businesses expand too quickly without a solid foundation, leading to cash flow issues. Another is failing to adapt to changing customer preferences — what worked five years ago may not resonate today. Lastly, some founders underestimate the operational demands of F&B, from staffing to supply chains, and burn out quickly. Success in this industry requires patience, adaptability, and a willingness to continuously innovate while staying true to your brand identity. 11. What has driven Gula Cakery’s growth to RM70 million in 2025 sales?   I personally oversee all our recipes to ensure every product carries a distinct personal touch, maintaining high standards while introducing new flavours. This hands-on approach has led to collaborations with brands such as Unifi, Nestum and Sunlight,

Berjaya Sompo Insurance Bhd has appointed Soo Wai Har as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2026. She will report to Kenneth Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Insurance, Sompo Asia Pacific. Wai Har succeeds Sek Kee Tan, who is retiring after serving as CEO since 2017. Tan will remain with the company until June 2026 to ensure a smooth leadership transition and support ongoing business continuity. During his tenure, he played a key role in strengthening Berjaya Sompo’s market position and driving operational growth. Wai Har brings more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including leadership roles with several global insurers. She was most recently chief executive officer of Generali Malaysia, where she oversaw business strategy and growth initiatives. Prior to that, she held senior management positions at AXA Affin Insurance and AIG, gaining extensive experience across underwriting, operations and distribution. In her new role, Wai Har is expected to lead Berjaya Sompo’s Malaysia operations, focusing on business expansion, customer experience and operational efficiency. She will also work closely with Sompo’s Asia Pacific leadership team to align regional growth strategies and strengthen the company’s presence in the Malaysian insurance market.

PIE Industrial Bhd has named Che Kian Yeap as its new managing director (MD), effective immediately. He succeeds Datuk Mui Chung Meng, who joined the board on May 10, 2000, the electronic manufacturing services company said in a Bursa Malaysia filing. Che, 50, brings over 25 years of experience in the healthcare software and electronics sectors. He has managed major clients, including three of Taiwan’s top five electronics groups, and has established high-value partnerships with gross margins of up to 90%. Che has also been involved in the global deployment of healthcare software solutions across the United States, Japan, China, and Thailand. In a separate announcement, PIE Industrial confirmed that executive director Lan Kuo-Yi has resigned to pursue personal interests. Shares of PIE Industrial closed five sen, or 4.39%, higher at RM1.19 on Wednesday, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM384.04 million.

AmMetLife Insurance Bhd has appointed Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail as its new chief executive officer, marking a leadership transition at the insurer. He succeeds Rangam Bir, who has stepped down from the role to pursue other opportunities. Wan brings close to 30 years of experience in the insurance and takaful industries. Over the course of his career, he has held roles as a regulator, actuary and senior executive across various insurance and takaful organisations. He has also contributed to industry development, including serving as chairman of the Malaysian Takaful Association. MetLife’s Regional Head for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam, Elena Butarova, said Wan’s appointment comes at a time when demand for protection and health solutions in Malaysia continues to evolve. She noted that his strong actuarial background, extensive industry knowledge and commercial leadership experience position him well to lead the company into its next phase of growth. Wan said he looks forward to strengthening AmMetLife’s role in helping Malaysians build financial resilience. He added that rising awareness around insurance, health protection and long-term financial planning presents opportunities for the company to expand its reach and deliver greater value to customers. AmMetLife was established in 1973 as AmLife Insurance Berhad and is one of the longer-operating insurers in Malaysia. The company is a joint venture between AmBank Group and MetLife, offering life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management solutions. Through the partnership, AmMetLife leverages MetLife’s global expertise alongside AmBank Group’s local market presence to serve customers across Malaysia.

Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Bhd has appointed Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali as its independent non-executive chairman, following the resignation of Tun Richard Malanjum from the role. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the consumer goods distributor said Mohd Zuki, 64, brings extensive public sector leadership experience to the board. He holds a degree in economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, a diploma in public management from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), and a master of business administration from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Mohd Zuki began his career in the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service in 1992 and has since held various senior roles across multiple ministries and government agencies. Throughout his public service career, he was involved in policy development, administrative leadership and inter-agency coordination at the federal level. Among his previous positions, he served as director-general of the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, secretary for federal affairs in Sarawak, and senior deputy secretary-general at the Prime Minister’s Department. He also held the role of secretary-general of the Ministry of Defence, where he oversaw administrative and strategic functions within the ministry. The company said his appointment is expected to strengthen board leadership and support Kim Teck Cheong’s governance and strategic direction.

Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) has appointed Tarang Gupta as chief executive officer-designate, effective July 1, 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition. In a Bursa Malaysia filing, the food and beverage group said Gupta will succeed Lim Yew Hoe, who will retire as CEO on Sept 30, 2026. Gupta is scheduled to assume the CEO role on Oct 1, 2026. Gupta brings more than 24 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, with a track record in driving growth and transformation across Asia and Africa. F&N said he has held senior leadership positions managing complex organisations, with end-to-end responsibility for commercial performance, operational excellence and capability development. His experience spans multiple consumer categories, including dairy and nutrition, where he led market expansion initiatives, strengthened execution discipline and built resilient supply chain platforms. He previously served as managing director of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd for Malaysia and Singapore. F&N said Lim will continue to lead the group during the transition period and will work closely with Gupta to ensure a smooth and orderly handover. Lim noted that the company is well-positioned for its next phase of growth and expressed confidence in Gupta’s leadership. Gupta said he looks forward to working closely with Lim and the leadership team to further strengthen the group’s capabilities and drive continued growth.

Former Bank Islam Group Chief Executive Officer Mohd Muazzam Mohamed has been appointed to the board of the Consumer Credit Commission, strengthening the newly established regulator overseeing non-bank consumer credit providers in Malaysia. The Consumer Credit Commission, also known as the Suruhanjaya Kredit Pengguna, was set up to regulate and supervise consumer credit activities outside the traditional banking system. Its scope includes monitoring non-bank lenders and other credit providers to promote responsible lending practices and enhance consumer protection across the sector. Earlier, the commission named former Bank Negara Malaysia Assistant Governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya as its first Executive Chairman, marking a key step in forming the leadership team for the new regulatory body. The appointments follow the enforcement of the Consumer Credit Act 2025, which came into effect on 1 March 2026. The implementation of the Act formally marks the start of the commission’s operations as Malaysia’s dedicated authority overseeing consumer credit providers beyond banks and financial institutions. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight and improve transparency within the country’s fast-growing consumer credit landscape. Muazzam stepped down as Group CEO of Bank Islam in December 2025 after serving nearly a decade with the Islamic banking group. During his tenure, he led various strategic initiatives, including strengthening the bank’s digital capabilities and expanding its presence in the Islamic financial services sector. He will be succeeded by YM Raja Datin Paduka Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz, who is set to assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer effective 1 April 2026.

NetApp Malaysia has appointed Moti Uttam as its Country Manager, strengthening the company’s push to support organisations building data foundations for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation. The appointment comes as Malaysia accelerates efforts to become an AI-driven economy, with businesses increasing investments in data infrastructure to boost productivity and innovation. In his new role, Moti will oversee NetApp’s operations in Malaysia, focusing on expanding customer and partner engagement, driving business growth, and increasing adoption of the company’s data management and AI solutions across key industries. “I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for Malaysia. The country’s bold ambitions are driving momentum towards an AI-driven economy, and data sits at the core of that transformation,” he said. He added that he plans to work closely with customers and partners to help Malaysian enterprises build intelligent data infrastructure, enabling them to deploy AI securely and at scale. Moti brings more than 25 years of experience in the technology sector, having previously held leadership roles at Hitachi Vantara and Dell EMC. He was most recently Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Tao Bin Malaysia, where he helped develop a cloud-based robotic retail platform powered by AI and IoT. NetApp Senior Director for ASEAN Angeline Lim said the appointment comes as Malaysia continues to advance its digital economy and expand national AI capabilities. She noted that Moti’s local market expertise and industry experience will help strengthen NetApp’s role in supporting organisations as they build data-driven capabilities aligned with national priorities.

Berjaya Property Bhd, formerly Berjaya Land Bhd, has appointed Johor princess Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim as its new non-independent non-executive chairman, filling a role that had been vacant for more than two years. The appointment takes effect immediately, according to a Bursa Malaysia filing on Thursday. She succeeds Tun Richard Malanjum, who retired on Dec 12, 2023. Tunku Aminah, 39, is the only daughter of Malaysia’s current King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. Her appointment comes two days after she was named chairman of U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s 5G network provider. She has extensive experience leading private organisations across multiple industries and serves on the boards of numerous companies, including Berjaya Corporation Bhd, REDtone Digital Bhd, Berjaya Assets Bhd, Berjaya Group Bhd, Berjaya Capital Bhd, Berjaya Hartanah Bhd, Berjaya Japan Developments Bhd, Bukit Kiara Resort Bhd, U Mobile, and Berjaya Times Square Bhd. She also holds the KFC franchise in Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru. Tunku Aminah and Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan co-founded Mawar Setia Sdn Bhd, which controls 50% of U Mobile following a deal with Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Media), a Temasek Holdings unit. She currently holds 702,000 shares in Berjaya Rail, a unit of Berjaya Property. Berjaya Property shares closed 0.5 sen, or 2%, higher at 26 sen on Thursday, giving the company a market value of RM1.3 billion.