KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Robin Tan Yeong Ching has stepped down “to pursue other interests”. He is succeeded by Farhash Wafa Salvador, the former political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Tan, the son of 7-Eleven’s major shareholder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun with a 41.8% stake, was appointed to the group’s board as chairman, non-independent non-executive director on Nov 25, 2021.

7-Eleven said the boardroom change is effective immediately.

The convenience store chain operator said Farhash, 40, brings with him over more than a decade worth of experience in the field of business, consultancy and advisory.

Farhash is or had been a director and shareholder in at least 10 private companies which include Swag Technologies Sdn Bhd, Salvador & Sons Sdn Bhd and Pacific Samudera Sdn Bhd, the group said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday (Jan 3).

He was also an independent non-executive director of Bluemont Group Ltd (now known as Southern Archipelago Ltd) from 2014 to 2016, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange.

Farhash was also appointed as group executive chairman of Apex Equity Holdings Bhd a week ago, replacing Datuk Ahmad Redza Abdullah, who resigned from his position in September last year after just three months since his appointment in June.

Ahmad Redza came onboard as Apex Equity chairman after the retirement of his predecessor Chithra Ganesalingam, whose chairmanship spanned from April 30, 2021 to Jun 20, 2022.

Shares of 7-Eleven settled 16 sen or 8.3% lower at RM1.77 on Tuesday, valuing the company at RM2.18 billion, while Apex Equity closed unchanged at RM1.19 with a market capitalisation of RM254.14 million.