Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee bin Wan Ariffin (born 1960/1961) is a Malaysian businessman; the chairman of Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad, group chairman of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad and Malaysia Airlines, and former president and CEO of Petronas. In 2021, he was appointed a member of the ExxonMobil board of directors, becoming the first non-American appointed to the board. He was ousted four months later during shareholder votes.[4]

Wan Zulkiflee
Born
Wan Zulkiflee bin Wan Ariffin

1960 or 1961 (age 63–64)[1]
NationalityMalaysian
EducationUniversity of Adelaide
OccupationBusinessman
TitleChairman of Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad
Chairman of Gas Malaysia[2]
Group Chairman of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad and Malaysia Airlines
Former president & CEO of Petronas
Former Director of ExxonMobil[3]
PredecessorShamsul Azhar Abbas

Early life

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Wan Zulkiflee attended the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and graduated in 1977. He later earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, and attended the six-week Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2004.[5]

Career

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He was appointed Pro Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in 2012.[5]

He was the president and CEO of Petronas from April 2015 until 30 June 2020,[1] taking over from Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas.[6] In June 2018, Attorney General of Sarawak requested that Petronas be relieved of its authority role in the oil and gas market in the Sarawak region.[7] Zulkiflee has stated that oil and gas royalties and regulatory rights in the region were always under the authority of the Malaysian government, but consented to work toward a mutually acceptable working agreement nonetheless.[8]

In August 2018, Ahmad Nizam was appointed chairman of Petronas, however Zulkiflee maintained his position as CEO and president.[9]

In February 2021, ExxonMobil announced the appointment of Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee as their first non-American director, making him the 11th director on board.[10] During 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Wan Zulkiflee was amongst three directors who will be departing the board.[3]

In July 2021, Wan Zulkiflee was appointed chairman of Gas Malaysia.[2]

In May 2024, Wan Zulkiflee was appointed chairman of Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad.[11]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Executive Profile* Wan Zulkiflee Bin Wan Ariffin". Bloomberg. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Wan Zulkiflee appointed Gas Malaysia chairman". The Star. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "ExxonMobil announces final results in election of directors". Exxon Mobil. June 21, 2021. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Wan Zulkiflee's ExxonMobil director position appears to be in limbo just four months after appointment". The Edge. June 3, 2021. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Leadership - Pro Chancellor". www.utp.edu.my. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  6. ^ "Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin appointed Petronas President/CEO". The Star. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. ^ "The Petronas-Sarawak oil intrigue - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  8. ^ Zakariah, Zarina (August 30, 2018). "Petronas awaits federal govt decision over oil royalty issue and regulatory rights in Sarawak | New Straits Times". NST Online.
  9. ^ "Ahmad Nizam is new Petronas chairman, Wan Zulkiflee to stay on as president, CEO". The Edge Markets. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  10. ^ "Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin Joins ExxonMobil Board of Directors". 13 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Nestle Malaysia names Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin as new chairman". The Star. February 27, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa". www.istiadat.gov.my.