KUALA LUMPUR (June 15): Sime Darby Plantation Bhds (SDP) has appointed its non-independent director Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani as the group's interim chairman.

This follows the retirement of Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas, 79, as chairman at the conclusion of the group's annual general meeting on Thursday (June 15), the group said in a filing..

Megat Najmuddin had served as SDP chairman since 2020 and holds a direct interest of 20,025 shares in the group.

Nik Norzrul, 62, meanwhile was appointed to SDP's board a year ago.

He is the chairman and senior partner of leading legal firm Zaid Ibrahim & Co. Previously, he practised law with the international law firm Baker & McKenzie and worked at an audit firm and bank in Kuala Lumpur.

In 2017, Nik Norzrul was appointed by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry as chairman of the Malaysia-Singapore Business Council.

Nik Norzrul is also the chairman of the Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd.

Additionally, he also sits on the board of Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd, Cagamas Holdings Bhd, MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, and Pertama Digital Bhd.

Shares of SDP closed four sen or 0.93% lower at RM4.26, valuing the group at RM29.46 billion.