KUALA LUMPUR (May 31): Nutraceutical products manufacturer DXN Holdings Bhd (KL:DXN) has appointed its chief marketing officer Prajith Pavithran as its new chief executive officer.

Prajith, 45, succeeds Teoh Hang Ching, 65, with effect from June 1, the group said in a statement, adding that Teoh will now focus exclusively on leading DXN’s expansion into China.

DXN said Prajith began his career at the group as a sales and training executive in 2001 and went on to serve in various leadership roles.

He oversaw operations in key markets such as India, the Philippines and Mexico, before being appointed regional manager for Latin America in 2010.

Prajith has served as chief marketing officer since May 2022. “Under his leadership, Latin America has emerged as the group’s fastest-growing market and the largest revenue contributor, accounting for more than 50% of the group’s revenue,” DXN said.

On Teoh's new role, DXN executive chairman and founder Datuk Lim Siow Jin said the outgoing CEO has strong knowledge of China’s local business environment, market trends and regulatory framework.

“He oversaw the establishment of our new cultivation and production facilities in Ningxia, China in recent years. Among DXN’s manufacturing facilities worldwide, China has the largest footprint, covering a total built-up area of 195,000 sq m. With DXN prioritising expansion in China, Teoh’s extensive experience positions him well to elevate DXN China to the next level,” said LIm.

Shares of DXN closed down one sen or 1.55% at 63.5 sen on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM3.14 billion.