From left: Foong Pik Yee, Khoo Gaik Bee and Chong Chye Neo.

       KUALA LUMPUR: QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd has appointed Chong Chye Neo, Khoo Gaik Bee and Foong Pik Yee as new independent directors.

       In addition, QSR Brands will have another board member joining from abroad - a former regional fast-food head to be announced soon.

       Chong retired as MD/CEO of IBM Malaysia in December 2018. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to helm the company in its then 55-year history in Malaysia.

       In her 30 years at IBM, she held leadership roles that spanned across multiple disciplines of technical, sales, intellectual property, business, and strategy development.

       Foong has over 30 years in the banking sector with international banks and a Malaysian public listed bank with experience in general management, finance, strategic planning, risk management, audit, sales and marketing, product management, and operations.

       She has held various C-suite level positions for more than 15 years.

       Khoo brings a wealth of experience from a progressive 39-year career spanning the entire spectrum of human resource management.

       She served at several international and Malaysian corporates including Digital Equipment Malaysia, ICI Paints (M) Sdn Bhd, Sunway

       Group of Companies, and Arthur Young & Co among others, before retiring as executive director/human resource director of Guinness Anchor Bhd in 2006.

       Chong and Khoo will begin in March 2022, whilst Foong will be joining on April 1. The fourth board member will be joining in due course.

       QSR said these new appointees would bring fresh perspectives and diversity to the company in terms of skills, background, nationalities, industry experience, and gender.

       “Under the new management team, led by CEO/MD Nehchal Khanna, QSR Brands has embarked on a journey towards transformation while delivering shareholder value growth during a challenging period in the last two years.

       “Today’s announcement is another step of transformation, that is, on board governance including board composition, diversity, decision process, risk and compliance management, human capital talent management, and sustainability,” chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim said in a statement.

       “As we refresh our board, these new appointments will collectively bring strategic oversight to QSR Brands and meet the gold standard of corporate governance.

       “We’re excited to welcome these prominent individuals to QSR Brands’ board of directors. I am particularly pleased that we will achieve great diversity at the Board,” Jamaludin said.