KUALA LUMPUR (March 15): Former Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) managing director (MD) Zainal Abidin Abd Jalil, who still sits on the company’s board, has been appointed as an independent non-executive director of TH Heavy Engineering Bhd, effective March 15.

Zainal is currently an executive director of DNeX and has held the post since February 2019, after serving as the group’s MD for about five years, and is also the group MD of Ping Petroleum Ltd, a 90% subsidiary of DNeX.

In a filing with the bourse, TH Heavy said Zainal has managed to turn around DNeX during his time at the helm.

“Zainal has demonstrated significant leadership experience in upstream exploration and production including offshore operations, and joint venture management with strong partner relation experience with global players in the oil and gas sector. 

“He also has in-depth knowledge of major hydrocarbon producing areas in West Africa, North America and Asia Pacific in addition to leadership experience overseeing power business in the Middle East, North Africa, South East Asia and Australia,” said the group.

Prior to DNeX, he served as the chief executive officer of Malakoff Corp Bhd, and had spearheaded the group’s transformation into a major international independent water and power producer with core businesses in power generation, renewable energy, water desalination and operations and maintenance services.

TH Heavy's shares have been suspended from trading since December last year as it failed to regularise its financial health.