Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen (The Edge filepix by Patrick Goh)

KUALA LUMPUR (March 23): The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has appointed Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen as its new chairman effective May 1, 2023.

In a statement on Thursday (March 23), MPOC said Bek-Nielsen has extensive experience in the Malaysian palm oil industry, having previously served on the MPOC board and is therefore well versed with the challenges and issues that the industry faces.

Bek-Nielsen is vice chairman and chief executive director of United Plantations Bhd and has been a council member of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) since 2005.

He has also served as a council member of the MPOC from 2005 to 2020, as well as served on the programme advisory committee to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) from 2008 to 2019.

In 2014, he was appointed to the RSPO board of governors as co-chairman, representing the MPOA, and continued serving as co-chair for nine years until early this year, when he decided not to seek re-election.

He has also been appointed the honorary consul general of Denmark for Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, as well as the honorary consul of Denmark to Perak, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor and Terengganu.

MPOC said in his new role as the chairman, Bek-Nielsen will continue to focus on sustainability of and social improvements in the Malaysian palm oil sector, ensuring trade doors remain open for the world’s largest agri-commodity, as the industry moves towards its goal of producing sustainable palm oil.

Commenting on the appointment, MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the organisation is confident that Bek-Nielsen’s leadership and commitment to sustainability and social progress in the palm oil trade will help ensure that the industry’s global trading prospects remain open, and that sustainable practices continue to be at the forefront of the sector’s goals.