Board Of Directors' Profile

TAN SRI DATO’ SURIN UPATKOON
Non-Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Tan Sri Dato’ Surin Upatkoon, a Thai national, male, aged 71, was appointed Executive Director of Magnum Berhad (“Magnum”) on 4 August 2000 and subsequently, on 28 August 2002, he was appointed Managing Director of Magnum where he played a major role in formulating the business strategies and direction of Magnum Group and was actively involved in the policy making aspects of the operations of Magnum Group. On 26 June 2013, he relinquished his executive position and was re-designated to Non-Executive Chairman of Magnum. He is also Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of Magnum.

Tan Sri Surin completed his secondary education in Han Chiang High School, Penang in 1970. He began his career with MWE Weaving Mills Sdn. Bhd. in 1971 as a manager and he was appointed as the Managing Director of MWE Spinning Mills Sdn. Bhd. in 1974 where he was in charge of its daily operations. Subsequently, he was appointed the Managing Director of MWE Weaving Mills Sdn. Bhd. and a Director of MWE Holdings Berhad (now known as MWE Holdings Sdn. Bhd.). Tan Sri Surin has vast working experience and has played a key role in the expansion and development of the MWE Group of Companies.

Currently, he also sits on the Board of MPHB Capital Berhad (a public listed company), Magnum 4D Berhad, MWE Golf and Country Club Berhad and several private limited companies in Malaysia and overseas. He is also a Trustee of Chang Ming Thien Foundation and Magnum Foundation.

Tan Sri Surin is the father of Krian Upatkoon, the Executive Director of Magnum.

DATO’ LAWRENCE LIM SWEE LIN
Non-Independent Executive Director

Dato’ Lawrence Lim Swee Lin, a Malaysian, male, aged 63, was appointed to the Board of Magnum on 28 June 2013 as a Non-Executive Director and was re-designated to Executive Director on 25 February 2014. He is a member of the Group Risk Management Committee of Magnum.

Dato’ Lim started his career with a leading merchant bank in Malaysia where he was principally involved in syndications, debt securitisation and project financing. He was appointed to the Board of MWE Holdings Berhad in August 1989 as Executive Director and was involved in the management and operation of MWE Holdings Berhad Group of Companies until he relinquished the executive position in MWE Holdings Berhad in August 2002. Following the conclusion of a privatisation exercise of MWE Holdings Berhad in October 2018, Dato’ Lim had resigned as a director of MWE Holdings Berhad on 31 October 2018.

In August 2000 and October 2002, Dato’ Lim was appointed to the Boards of Magnum 4D Berhad and Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd respectively. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd and Executive Director of Magnum 4D Berhad. He also holds directorships in various subsidiary companies in the Magnum Group and a number of other private and public limited companies, both in Malaysia and overseas. He is also a Trustee of Magnum Foundation.

Since 21 November 2018, Dato’ Lim was appointed as the Chairman of World Lottery Association – Security and Risk Management Committee. He was the Chairman and an Executive Committee Member of Asia Pacific Lottery Association (“APLA”) from November 2014 until his retirement on 11 October 2018. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Malaysian South-South Corporation Berhad.

Dato’ Lim holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics (Honours) from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom and a Master Degree in Business Administration from the Victoria University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

KRIAN UPATKOON
Non-Independent Executive Director

Krian Upatkoon, a Thai national, male, aged 40, was appointed as Executive Director of Magnum on 18 February 2019. He is also an Executive Director of Magnum 4D Berhad since 17 May 2018. He joined the Group on 6 April 2014 as Senior Manager of Business Development & E-Marketing. He was later appointed as Head of Business Development & E-Marketing on 1 February 2016 and subsequently promoted as Deputy General Manager of Magnum 4D Group on 1 March 2017. Krian does not sit on any Board Committee of Magnum.

Krian holds a Master of Science and Engineering in Computer Engineering and Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Computer Engineering, both from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

He has more than 10 years of working experiences in web and application development, and has previously managed large deployments of IT infrastructure. Prior to this, he was employed in companies providing online video content delivery services, network architecture, electronic games development and mobile technologies research.

Krian is also the Executive Director of MWE Holdings Berhad (now known as MWE Holdings Sdn. Bhd.) which was a public company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad until October 2018. Currently, he sits on the Board of Multi-Purpose Capital Holdings Berhad, Davex Holdings Berhad and MWE Golf and Country Club Berhad. He also holds directorships in various subsidiaries and associated companies in the Magnum Group and a number of other private companies.

Krian is the son of Tan Sri Dato’ Surin Upatkoon, the Non-Independent Non-Executive Chairman and a major shareholder of Magnum.

DATUK VIJEYARATNAM A/L V. THAMOTHARAM PILLAY
Non-Independent Non-Executive Director

Datuk Vijeyaratnam a/l V. Thamotharam Pillay, a Malaysian, male, aged 68, was appointed to the Board of Magnum on 16 November 1999. He is the Chairman of the Nomination Committee. He is also a member of the Group Audit Committee of Magnum.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. Datuk Vijeyaratnam has considerable experience in the fields of auditing, financial planning, general management and corporate advisory in various business environments. He is currently the Managing Director of his own corporate advisory and consultancy company.

Presently, Datuk Vijeyaratnam also sits on the Board of Eastern & Oriental Berhad (a public listed company) and several other private limited companies in Malaysia. He is also a Trustee of Magnum Foundation.

DATO’ LIM TIONG CHIN
Independent Non-Executive Director

Dato’ Lim Tiong Chin, a Malaysian, male, aged 67, was appointed to the Board of Magnum on 22 August 2017. He is the Chairman of the Group Risk Management Committee and the Group Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee of Magnum.

Dato’ Lim is a Public Accountant by profession, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Dato’ Lim was the Managing Director of A.A. Anthony Securities Sdn. Bhd. from 2001 to February 2013. Prior to joining A.A. Anthony Securities Sdn. Bhd., he was a Partner of Kiat & Associates from 1977 to 1983; the General Manager of A.A. Anthony & Co. Sdn Bhd from 1983 to 1985, and the Chairman and Managing Director of A.A. Anthony & Co. Sdn Bhd from 1985 to 3 September 2001.

Currently, he also sits on the Board of MPHB Capital Berhad (a public listed company) and several private limited companies in Malaysia.

JEAN FRANCINE GOONTING
Independent Non-Executive Director

Jean Francine Goonting, a Malaysian, female, aged 53, was appointed to the Board of Magnum on 20 August 2019. She is a member of the Group Audit Committee, Group Risk Management Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee of Magnum.

Francine holds degrees in Economics (majoring in accounting) and Law from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She is also an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya and has held a Capital Markets and Services Representative Licence for Corporate Finance under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.

Having commenced her career in merchant banking, Francine has over 28 years of experience in debt and capital markets, corporate finance and advisory, cross border transactions and mezzanine finance. She was also the Group Treasurer of a public listed company. She is currently a corporate consultant.