Dato’ Azman Bin Mahmud

Chairman/Independent Non-Executive Director
Male,
Malaysian,
62

Dato’ Azman was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director on 15 April 2021. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from University Putra Malaysia.

After having served with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for over three decades, Dato’ Azman Mahmud ended his tenure there as the Chief Executive officer. He had the enviable responsibility to drive investments into the country and lead the team in advising, formulating and recommending strategies, policies, investment and industry development programmes in the manufacturing and services sectors to the government of Malaysia. In his former role as CEo of MIDA, he was also pivotal in attracting foreign investments into the country, in addition to being instrumental in driving domestic investments in various industries and sectors.

Now helming the stewardship of EXIM Bank, Dato’ Azman is enthusiastic about using his vast industry and investment know-how in driving and positioning Malaysian businesses from all over the country in their global business ventures, as per the Government’s mandate. He is also highly sought after by several leading key organisations to be on the board of their organisations for his wisdom and expertise. He also helms the Chairmanship of several boards of companies and organisations, which includes Cnergenz Berhad, Privasia Technology Berhad, Panasonic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and SME Aerospace Sdn. Bhd..

He also holds various other Board positions in GDEX Berhad and Kulim Technology Park Corporation, in addition to being a member of several organisations related to the development of businesses and investments and as an investment panel member for Penjana Kapital (an entity established by the Ministry of Finance in July 2020). He is also the Board of charitable organisation Akademi Transformasi Asnaf Perlis MAIPs Sdn. Bhd..

Dato’ Azman has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. He also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. He attended all the Board Meetings during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Managing Director
Male,
Japanese,
58

Mr Sugihara was appointed a Director and Managing Director of the Company on 1 June 2023. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Japan with a Degree in Law.

Mr Sugihara has more than 35 years of working experience with the Panasonic Holdings Corporation Group (“Panasonic”). He joined the Corporate Planning Department of Panasonic in 1988 and has been involved with Strategic Business Planning and took up various assignment of planning, sales and marketing in America from 1999 to 2002. He was then assigned as General Manager to the Procurement Department, Panasonic Communications (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. for the period of 2005 to 2008.

He returned to Japan in April 2008 and was involved with corporate planning for a number of divisions within the Panasonic Group. He held position as Director, Corporate Planning division of the Heating & Ventilation AC Company before his assignment to Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad.

Mr Sugihara has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. He also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. He did not attend any Board Meetings during the financial year as he was appointed to the Board only recently and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Independent Non-Executive Director
Male,
Malaysian,
68

YM Raja Anuar was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 January 2017. He is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee of the Company. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), a member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the Institute of Internal Auditors. He is also a Chartered Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

During his career, YM Raja Anuar held senior positions in finance and internal audit in several public listed companies in the financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications and plantations industries. YM Raja Anuar’s previous experiences also include being on the board of several other public listed companies.

YM Raja Anuar has no shareholdings in the Company and its associate company. He also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. He attended all the Board Meetings held during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Independent Non-Executive Director
Female,
Malaysian,
73

Dato’ Kaziah was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 3 September 2019. She is the Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee of the Company. Dato’ Kaziah graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Arts (Economics) from University of Malaya.

Dato’ Kaziah served the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) since 1975 and her last position was the Deputy Director General I from 2003 until her retirement in 2008. During her tenure with MIDA, she was the Chairperson of the ASEAN Investment Coordinating Committee on Investment for the term 2006/2007 and was a member of the Malaysian Logistic Council and the Malaysian Services Development Council from 2006 until 2008.

She is currently an Advisor to Pricewaterhouse Coopers Taxation Services Sdn. Bhd., a position which she has held since July 2008. Previously, she was an advisor of Investor Relations, Investment Management Division of East Coast Economic Region Development Council from 2009 to 2019.

Dato’ Kaziah is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad and MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad.

Dato’ Kaziah has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. She also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. She attended all of the Board Meetings held during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Independent Non-Executive Director
Female,
Malaysian,
72

Tan Sri Hasmah was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 2 october 2013. She is the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Nomination Committee of the Company. Tan Sri Hasmah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from University of Malaya. She is also a Fellow of the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia.

Tan Sri Hasmah binti Abdullah had a distinguished career spanning over 38 years and was the former Chief Executive officer of the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and Director General of IRB from 19 october 2006 to 7 January 2011. At IRB, she led the Malaysian delegation to various international conferences and represented Malaysia on the Management Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators in London from 2007 to 2009. Under her leadership, IRB was awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Innovation Award in 2009 in recognition of the vast improvements and innovations introduced to the tax-paying public. She has been a Tax Advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia (2011-2013) and a Commission Member of Securities Commission of Malaysia (2011-2018). on 12 September 2018, Tan Sri Hasmah was appointed as the Chairperson of the Tax Reform Committee.

Tan Sri Hasmah was formerly an Independent Non-Executive Director of UMW Holdings Berhad. She is currently a trustee of Dana Amal Jariah, Yayasan Allammiyah and Alzheimer Disease Foundation Malaysia. She is also an Executive Council member of the Selangor and Federal Territory Association for the Mentally Handicapped

Tan Sri Hasmah has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. She also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. She attended all the Board Meetings held during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Executive Director
Female,
Malaysian,
55

Ms Kwan was appointed an Executive Director of the Company on 1 March 2018.

Ms Kwan graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting from University of Malaya. Upon graduation, Ms Kwan joined a Big-4 audit firm in Malaysia as an Audit Assistant in 1992 and was promoted to Audit Senior two years later. The portfolios of client which she audited included large multinational companies and local corporations. She is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

In 1995, Ms Kwan joined a food manufacturing-based public listed company as an Accountant and in 2000, was promoted to a Financial Controller. Her role as Financial Controller involved overseeing the accounts department, preparation of financial reports, overseeing all tax and regulatory/compliance issues as well as contributing to decisions regarding financial strategy.

Ms Kwan joined Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad in 2007 as the Assistant General Manager of Finance Department taking charge of accounting and financial reporting. She was promoted to General Manager in 2009 and her scope of duties expanded to cover overall financial management, treasury and company secretarial functions. In 2013, following her exemplary leadership in strengthening the internal control processes, the Company promoted her to Assistant Director of Finance. In 2015, her scope of work was expanded to overseeing the Legal & Compliance department. She is currently being tasked to oversee the operations of the Information System Department.

Ms Kwan has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. She also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. She attended all the Board Meetings held during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Executive Director
Female,
Malaysian,
59

Ms Siew Pui Ling was appointed an Executive Director of the Company on 4 August 2014. She graduated from Asia University of Tokyo with a Bachelor Degree of Business Administration Management.

Ms Siew Pui Ling joined the Company in 1991 and has more than 25 years of experience in Sales and Marketing. Prior to this, she was assigned to Departmental Head for Logistic, Product Planning and Industrial Design. In 2008, she has merged Product Planning and Marketing Department as Sales Department. Prior to this, she established Voice of Customer Research’ team (“VoCR”) to further strengthen Product Planning operation. Ms Siew was appointed as an Assistant Director in year 2012 and currently, she is responsible for Sales & Marketing, Logistic and Product Planning functions of the Company. Starting from April 2017, her portfolio has expanded to include Human Resource Department. She is currently the Senior Division Executive for Sales and Human Resource Division.

Ms Siew Pui Ling holds 100 shares in the Company but has no shareholdings in the associated company. She also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. She attended all of the Board Meetings held during the financial year and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Male,
Japanese,
59

Mr Shinichi Hayashi was appointed a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 April 2023. He graduated from the School of Engineering osaka University.

Mr Hayashi has over 35 years of working experience within the Panasonic organization. He joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd (now known as Panasonic Holdings Corporation, Japan (“PHD”)) in April 1988 in the Metal Material Group, Corporate under the International Trade Division and was promoted to the position of Supervisor for the same Division in April 1994. He was then promoted as the Manager of High Technology Business Creation Group, Corporate under the International Trade Division in 2002 and in 2006 he was promoted to be President of Matsushita Techno Trading Co.,Ltd., a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,Ltd.

Mr Hayashi has since held various directorial and managerial positions across different divisions of the organization. He was appointed as Director of the Material Purchasing Centre of PHD on January 2013 followed by his appointment as the Managing Director for Panasonic Asia Pacific procurement Management Center, which is a Malaysian subsidiary of PHD. He was assigned to an international posting in January 2016 as the President of Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines. Since then, he was appointed as Director of Beauty Personal Care Division.

In october 2021, Mr Hayashi returned to Japan and held the position as Executive Vice President of the Living Appliances and Solutions Division for 3 consecutive years. He presently oversees the Corporate Planning, Asian Multi Products Manufacturing Company, Housing Appliance Business & Procurement Strategy.

Mr Hayashi has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. He also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. He did not attend any Board Meetings during the financial year as he was appointed to the Board only recently and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Male,
Japanese,
49

Mr Nishida was appointed a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 April 2022. Mr Nishida graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Tohoku University, Japan.

Mr Nishida joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd (now known as Panasonic Holdings Corporation) (“PHD”) in Japan in February 1998 as an overseas Trainee and was posted to Brazil to work in the sales company there. After a year there, he was assigned back to Japan and was responsible for the Home AV division for the Russia, Middle East & Africa market. From April 2004 to March 2006, he was responsible for the Imaging division for Russia, Middle East & Africa and from April 2006 to February 2008 he covered Asia/oceania market.

In March 2008, he was transferred to Panasonic UK as its Marketing General Manager for AV category. He returned to Japan in March 2014 to head the overseas Sales Marketing of Audio in Consumer Marketing division in charge of Global market except Europe. In March 2019, he was assigned to UK as Marketing Director responsible for product marketing, brand communication and planning of consumer electronics business. In July 2021, Mr Nishida was assigned to Panasonic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and held the position of Deputy Managing Director and was promoted to his current position as Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. in April 2022.

Mr Nishida has no shareholdings in the Company and its associated company. He also has no family relationship with any Director and/or major shareholder of the Company nor any conflict of interest with the Company. He did not attend any Board Meetings during the financial year as he was appointed to the Board only recently and has no convictions for any offences within the past 5 years, other than traffic offences, if any.