Johari Ghani Brings Extensive Corporate, Finance Experience As Investment, Trade And Industry Minister
By Danni Haizal Danial Donald
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, 61, the newly appointed Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, is a seasoned politician who is expected to bring his extensive corporate and financial experience to his new portfolio.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), which is undoubtedly facing immense challenges, mainly due to tariffs imposed by the United States and uncertainties in the global trading arena, would stand to benefit from Johari’s experience in having previously helmed key ministries.
These portfolios include his tenure as the Minister of Plantations and Commodities from December 2023 until his appointment today to helm MITI by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Johari’s 25 years of corporate experience, including as a qualified chartered accountant and auditor, come in handy in formulating trade agreements with other countries.
His extensive experience would allow him to view national needs from both a business and a government perspective.
This experience is an added advantage, as MITI has to deal with numerous industries, sectors, and companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), seeking to penetrate export markets and facilitate foreign investment inflows.
Johari, who takes over from Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz at MITI, had an earlier stint as Second Finance Minister in a previous administration from 2016 to May 2018.
In addition to his private-sector experience, the new minister served as acting minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, taking over from Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who resigned on May 28 this year.
Johari is a member of the Malaysia Economic Council, which Anwar chairs. The council is responsible for formulating strategies to drive national economic growth through domestic and foreign investments, as well as monitoring and analysing global and domestic economic trends.
Since March 2023, he has also chaired a special task force to resolve issues related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
A qualified chartered accountant, Johari is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
He began his professional career as an auditor at international accounting firm Peat Marwick & Co, now part of KPMG.
With more than 25 years of experience in the corporate sector, Johari has held numerous senior leadership roles, including group managing director and chairman of both listed and unlisted companies on Bursa Malaysia.
His corporate experience spans industries such as fast food, manufacturing, and agriculture, and he is renowned as a turnaround specialist, having gained prominence for successfully helming and turning around major companies, including KFC Holdings and QSR Brands, in the late 1990s.
Among the posts he held are group managing director of QSR Brands Bhd, managing director of KFC Holdings (M) Bhd, managing director of CI Holdings Bhd and UDA Holdings Bhd chairman.
On Dec 12, 2023, Johari stepped down as chairman of CI Holdings Bhd following his appointment as Minister of Plantations and Commodities.
He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Titiwangsa from May 2013 to May 2018. He was renominated by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 2022 General Election for the same parliamentary seat and successfully reclaimed it.
Johari defeated Pakatan Harapan’s Khalid Abdul Samad by a majority of 4,632 votes, as well as challenges from Rosni Adam (Perikatan Nasional) and Khairuddin Abu Hassan (Pejuang).
He is currently the UMNO vice-president.
-- BERNAMA