KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) has appointed Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad as its group chief operating officer, effective from Jan 1, 2024.

In a statement on Friday, the plantation group said that in his new role, Haris will oversee the operations of Upstream Malaysia, Upstream Indonesia, and Upstream Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

It said Haris will also continue to serve as the managing director of Sime Darby Oils, where he will lead the efforts in market expansion and revenue growth.

SDP group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said the new appointment signals SDP’s readiness for the future.

“Building upon the achievements of the past, Haris’ leadership will be instrumental in navigating our business through the opportunities and challenges we face as an organisation with a global footprint.

“As we undergo rapid growth across our supply chain and introduce new technologies into existing pathways, we eagerly anticipate a new era of operational excellence under Haris’ guidance”, he said.

SDP said that in addition to his core responsibilities, Haris will spearhead various key corporate exercises for the group.

It said these projects are integral parts of SDP’s journey towards operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and innovation.

Haris joined the group in 2014 as the head of trading and marketing, and also led the plantation division’s downstream manufacturing division. He was appointed as the managing director of Sime Darby Oils in March 2019.