KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Sime Darby Bhd, which will see the listing of its plantation and property arms on Nov 30, has announced boardroom and managerial changes to lead its "leaner" core businesses of trading, logistics and healthcare, moving forward.

In a statement today, Sime Darby said the changes will be effective Dec 1. Its new board will comprise 11 directors — to be led by current deputy chairman Tan Sri Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, who will be redesignated as chairman.

Sime Darby's other board members will be Jeffri Salim Davidson, who will also take on the role of group chief executive officer; Tan Sri Samsudin Osman; Datin Kartini Abdul Manaf; Datuk Seri Lim Haw Kuang; Datuk Wan Selamah Wan Sulaiman; Tan Sri Mohamed Azman Yahya; Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin; Datuk Seri Abdul Hamidy Abdul Hafiz; and Thayaparan Sangara Pillai.

The announcement of an additional board member will be made soon, said the company.

Meanwhile, Mustamir Muhamad will be the chief financial officer and Datuk Thomas Leong Yew Hong the group chief strategy officer.

Scott William Cameron will remain as the managing director of the group's industrial arm. Likewise, Timothy Lee Chi Tim will continue to be the managing director of the logistics arm and Datuk Lawrence Lee Cheow Hock the managing director of the group's motors arm.

"This is a distinguished line up of individuals who will be able to take Sime Darby forward into the future," said current Sime Darby chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman.

"The board and the senior management have, between them, the years of experience and expertise necessary to take the trading and logistics businesses to the next level," Abdul Ghani said.

In the statement Sime Darby said when Sime Darby Plantation and Sime Darby Property are listed on Bursa Malaysia at the end of this month, the parent company will focus on its trading and logistics businesses, consisting of Sime Darby Industrial, Sime Darby Motors, Sime Darby Logistics and its healthcare business.

Sime Darby also owns a 50% stake in Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Sdn Bhd, a joint venture with Ramsay Health Care, which is one of the world's leading healthcare providers. Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care has six hospitals, three each in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Shares of the conglomerate lost 3 sen or 0.33% to close at RM9 today, with 15.84 million shares traded. It has a market capitalisation of RM61.34 billion.