The Board of Directors (“the Board”) of Heineken Malaysia is pleased to announce that Dato’ Sri Idris Jala has been named the successor for Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon who has decided to retire as Chairman of the Board of Heineken Malaysia on 31 December 2016. Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon has, at the request of Management, agreed to continue to support the Group as Advisor of Heineken Malaysia commencing 1 January 2017.

Dato’ Sri Idris Jala is the Managing Director of the Big Fast Results (“BFR”) Institute and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (“PEMANDU”) in the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia – the organisation tasked with spearheading Malaysia’s transition towards high income status by 2020. For 6 years, he also served as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia.

Dato’ Sri Idris Jala is a renowned transformation guru in turning around companies’ performance through his big fast results methodology and transformational strategies that are innovative, rigorous and relevant to today’s demands. He has continuously delivered sustainable socio economic reforms which, in 2014, saw Bloomberg place him among the top 10 most influential policy makers in the world.

Under his leadership, PEMANDU was also named by NESTA, UK and Bloomberg Philanthropies as one of the top 20 most innovative Government agencies in the world. Today, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala travels around the world assisting governments deliver their very own transformation journeys.

In addition, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala is an Expert Resource Speaker at the Harvard Health Leaders’ Ministerial Forum and a Visiting Fellow of Practice at the Oxford Blavatnik School of Government. He also served on the Advisory panel for the World Economic Forum (WEF) on New Economic Growth and also on the Advisory Panel of World Bank.

Prior to his Government stint, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala was Managing Director/CEO at Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for 3 years. He was brought on board to turn around the airline which was in crisis brought about by a prolonged bout of losses from operational inefficiencies.

Before MAS, he spent 23 years at Shell, rising up the ranks to hold senior positions including Vice President, Shell Retail International and Vice President Business Development Consultancy, based in UK. This included successful business turnarounds in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

In view of his contribution to society, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala has received honorific titles from the King of Malaysia and various State Governments of Malaysia. He was conferred the “First Order” medal by the Italian Government.

Dato’ Sri Idris Jala holds a Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies and Management from University Sains Malaysia and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations from Warwick University. Dato’ Sri Idris Jala will succeed Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heineken Malaysia with effect from 1 January 2017.

On behalf of Heineken Malaysia, the Board and Management would like to extend their sincere appreciations to Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon for his contributions to the Group and they look forward to his continued contributions in his new role as an Advisor in Heineken Malaysia.

This announcement is dated 1 December 2016.