KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 30): In line with its regional expansion, telecommunication network solutions provider OCK Group Bhd announced today it has a new group chief executive officer (CEO).

With effect from Feb 1, current group CEO Dr Yap Wai Khee will be re-designated as CEO of OCK Sea Towers Pte Ltd, to oversee the group's telecommunication tower business in Southeast Asia.

His current role will be taken over by David Low, who is currently the executive director of OCK Group's new business and business development.

As CEO, Low will be overseeing the group's telecom operations, comprising telecommunication network services; telco managed services; solar engineering, procurement and construction; and mechanical and electrical engineering services.

The group said the senior leadership re-designation is in line with the group's strategy to focus on its regional expansion.

"With regional operations growing at its current trajectory, it was imperative for the group to assign a dedicated senior leadership personnel to oversee and manage the group's regional telecommunications operations," read the filing.

OCK managing director Sam Ooi said the change in leadership was necessary for the group to reach the next level of growth regionally.

"Dr Yap will be the best person to lead our strategic direction of bringing OCK to the next level through our regional tower business expansion.

"With Dr Yap at the helm of OCK Sea Towers Pte Ltd, and with David overseeing the group's overall executive function, we foresee our regional telecom operations and OCK Group will be well-positioned to achieve greater heights," Ooi commented in the filing.

Yap has 21 years of corporate experience in various leadership roles, both in local and foreign telecommunications companies like Axiata Group Bhd, Mfone (Cambodia) and Robi Axiata (Bangladesh).

Meanwhile, Low has been with the group for 12 years now. In 2006, he joined the group as general manager overseeing the group's daily operations up to the re-designation.

The group said it is dedicated to grow its regional ASEAN telecom footprint through greenfield, brownfield and potential acquisitions opportunities to own more telecommunication sites to achieve its vision of becoming an ASEAN tower company and to increase its recurring income stream.

At the closing bell today, shares in OCK slid half a sen or 0.57% to settle at 86.5 sen, for a market capitalisation of RM753.82 million. In the past one year, the stock has climbed about 9.49%.