Iris Corp group MD resigns, new group CEO appointed

Iris Corp Bhd group managing director Datuk Tan Say Jim

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Tan Say Jim, Iris Corp Bhd co-founder, group managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), has resigned, making way for Shaiful Zahrin Subhan to take over the helm as new group CEO.

Choong Choo Hock, who assumed the role of acting CEO in January after deputy group managing director and acting CEO Datuk Hamdan Mohd Hassan was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was on Monday redesignated as CEO of Iris trusted identification & information technology division.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the technology company said Tan retired effective immediately in conjunction with his mandatory retirement at age 60.

Shaiful, 41, was previously the chief operating officer of Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC) under the Youth & Sports  Ministry that oversaw all organisational aspects of the 29th SEA Games and 9th Asean Para Games hosted in Kuala Lumpur.

He was on a one-year secondment basis from Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s TV services and radio broadcasting unit Astro Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (from October 2016 to September 2017).

At Astro, he was the vice president (customer division) where he led several key business units for its TV operations, serving for five years  up to September 2016. 

Prior to joining Astro, Shaiful was attached with Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (from January 2008 to August 2011), holding roles in finance, marketing and sales. His last position was head of sales development for the enterprise business.

Last month, Iris deputy managing director Hamdan, 58, retired. He was remanded by the MACC in January in relation to the e-passport project for the Guinea government, which led Iris to suspend his executive powers.

In a press statement, Shaiful said: “I am looking forward to this wonderful opportunity to serve the Malaysian company that invented the world’s first e-passport. There is great opportunity ahead for Iris, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move swiftly and evolve continuously.”

Iris' biggest shareholder is Felda Investment Corp Bhd which owns a 19.39% stake.