KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd (HLFG) has appointed Emily Kok as independent and non-executive director.

       Kok, 55, comes from a diverse background in venture capital, private equity, management and entrepreneurship.

       She has co-founded several businesses including Rentwise Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's only homegrown, privately held independent lessor specialising in operating leases of IT equipment to the corporate sector.

       She was the CEO and chairman of Rentwise Sdn Bhd from 2004 to 2011. Other businesses Kok has co-founded are in the IT, financial services and FMCG spaces.

       Kok has more than 12 years of experience in direct investment, a significant part of that with 3i Group plc as Vice President for the Asia Pacific region from 1998 to 2003, where she was part of the pioneering team in establishing 3i's investment presence in Asia.

       Her portfolio ranged from new technology to brick and mortar in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer verticals.