This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 3, 2017 - May 9, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: PUC Founder (MSC) Bhd announced a slew of boardroom changes yesterday, together with the appointment of its group managing director Cheong Chia Chou as group chief executive officer (CEO).

Chia Chou, 41, took over the post from Hiew Wai Yoon, 42, on Monday. Hiew’s resignation took effect on the same day to make way for a board with a majority of independent directors to improve the group’s corporate governance standards, according to PUC Founder’s filings with Bursa Malaysia.

Chia Chou is the brother of the group’s late founder and former MD, Cheong Chia Chieh, who passed away in February last year.

With a master’s degree in computer science, Chia Chou is also the founder, director and major shareholder of Pictureworks Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, headquartered in Singapore.

Meanwhile, besides Hiew, PUC Founder executive director Cheong Tze Wai, 36, also quit his post for the same reason, according to PUC Founder filings with Bursa.

While Hiew will assume the role of group chief commercial officer, Tze Wai shall focus on his role as group chief strategy officer.

PUC Founder also appointed Lee Pei See, 41, as its new chief financial officer. Prior to joining PUC Founder, she was the financial director of SEEK Ltd’s Asian unit, SEEK Asia Group, and has about 20 years of experience in finance-related functions.

All new appointments are effective from Monday.