Byy ASILA JALIL

SIME Darby Property Bhd welcomed a new senior management line-up yesterday, including Datuk Azmir Merican Azmi Merican as group MD.

Azmir Merican took office yesterday, after helming asset management and infrastructure solutions firm UEM Edgenta Bhd for over five years.

Prior to his appointment at Sime Darby Property, which was first announced in January 2020, Azmir Merican was MD and CEO of UEM Edgenta from August 2014. He joined UEM Group Bhd, UEM Edgenta’s parent, as group COO of business units in 2012.

During his tenure at UEM Edgenta, Azmir Merican led its ongoing transformation as a technology-driven company in the healthcare support services, property and facility solutions, as well as infrastructure sectors.

“Azmir Merican has an excellent track record of delivering results, and his expertise includes organisational transformation, business restructuring, operational competence and corporate finance,” Sime Darby Property said in a statement yesterday.

Azmir Merican replaces Datuk Seri Amrin Awaluddin, who resigned as group MD in May last year to serve as MD of Boustead Holdings Bhd.

Azmir Merican began his career as an investment analyst before becoming a manager in the financial and corporate advisory arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Subsequently, he worked with CIMB Investment Bank Bhd before joining AWC Bhd as its group CEO and MD.

With Azmir Merican’s effective appointment, Datuk Wan Hashimi Albakri Wan Ahmad Amin Jaffri, who was serving as acting group CEO, resumes his position as the group’s COO of township development.

Sime Darby Property also appointed Mohd Sohimin Mohd Alayedin as its chief special projects officer. Mohd Sohimin was previously Tropicana Corp Bhd’s ED and has more than 29 years of experience in property development and construction.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, US, and is currently a member of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia.

In the past, he held senior positions in various companies including Glenmarie Properties Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB Hicom Bhd, Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd and Sunway City Bhd.

Another addition to the company’s senior management line-up is Izzat Alhadjri, who was appointed as the company’s acting head of corporate communications effective April 1, 2020.

Sime Darby Property chairman Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz welcomed the appointment of the new members, whom she said “possess in their respective backgrounds, a wealth of experience and are well-positioned to steer the company forward in an environment that is beset with great global economic uncertainties”.

The developer recorded a net profit of RM598.53 million in 2019 versus a net loss of RM238.46 million in 2018, while revenue increased 29.8% year-on-year to RM3.18 billion in 2019.

Its property development segment remained the key driver as it posted a 597.6% or RM357.1 million jump in contribution compared to the previous year.

The company also achieved total sales of RM3.1 billion last year, exceeding its RM2.3 billion target by 35%.