In this short Q&A with our leadership team, get to know our Group Chief Financial Officer, Mustamir Mohamad and learn about his experience during one of the biggest M&As in the Group’s history.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and your experience in Sime Darby?
Nearly three decades ago, in 1995, I embarked on my professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London, where I undertook the role of managing audit clients within the oil and gas sector. Upon my return to Malaysia, my career took an exciting turn as I joined the Banking Supervision department in Bank Negara, a pivotal time of my career.
However, my path was destined for a new chapter in 2005 when I made the decision to become a part of the Sime Darby family. It was during my tenure here that I found myself playing a significant role in the historic merger of Sime Darby, Golden Hope, and Kumpulan Guthrie in 2007, a milestone that left an indelible mark on my professional career. Since then, I have gone to take on numerous roles in strategy and finance across the Sime Darby group.
Q: Can you share with us further on the 2007 merger and your experience in being a part of it?
The 2007 Sime Darby merger was a major milestone in my career. It involved the consolidation of three leading Malaysian plantation companies into the largest company in Malaysia by market capitalisation and the world’s largest listed palm oil producer.
During the time, I was very involved in various aspects of the merger, such as valuation, due diligence, accounting, reporting and integration. We worked on numerous aspects of the deal, including managing the diverse financial structures of the three companies, communicating with the stakeholders and integrating the financial systems and estate management processes, not to mention the culture. We completed the merger in November 2007 and it was a landmark achievement that transformed Sime Darby. I am proud to have played a key role in this historic merger as it was a valuable learning experience that enriched my professional development and prepared me for future challenges. Since the 2007 merger, I have been fortunate to have been involved in many more M&A transactions within the Group.