Job Description

JOB TITLE: Group CEO - Business Support Division
LOCATION: Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Company Overview:
Our client is a leading and highly diversified business group with a strong presence across key sectors including banking, energy, retail, trading, and logistics. With a legacy of entrepreneurial growth and a strategic focus on institutional development, the Group is entering a transformative phase focused on operational excellence and sustainable growth.
As part of this evolution, a Business Support Division is being established to centralize and strengthen the Group's governance, internal controls, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. A cornerstone of this transformation will be the creation of a Shared Services Company (SSC) to deliver cross-functional services and drive cost-effective synergies across business units and geographies.
Role Summary:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Business Support Division will be responsible for setting the vision, mission, and strategic direction of the newly established Shared Services Company. This role will lead the design, launch, and scaling of centralized support services--such as Finance, HR, Procurement, IT, and Administrative Services--across all business units, and potentially external clients.
The CEO will serve as a strategic partner to Group leadership, driving organizational transformation, operational excellence, cost optimization, and governance integrity across the Group. This includes developing a business plan, overseeing its execution, and ensuring transparency, performance, and stakeholder alignment throughout the journey.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership

• Set the vision, mission, and long-term strategy for the Shared Services Company.
• Lead the development, approval, and execution of a comprehensive business plan, including:

• Market entry and internal demand analysis
• Definition of services and offerings
• Financial modeling (e.g., cost savings, pricing models)
• Investment requirements and phased implementation milestones
• Strategic growth plans for internal and external market penetration
• Position the Shared Services Company as a cost-effective provider of essential services, driving synergy across cross-border entities and external clients.
• Provide collaborative leadership to CEOs of designated entities to align objectives and optimize group-level efficiency.

Governance & Internal Controls

• Establish and maintain robust internal control and governance frameworks across all business entities.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory and risk management standards.
• Monitor governance effectiveness and introduce continuous improvements in oversight mechanisms.

Operational Excellence & SOP Standardization

• Develop, implement, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across departments and subsidiaries.
• Standardize and streamline operational frameworks in partnership with business units.
• Drive operational uniformity, efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.

Organizational Structure & Strategy

• Lead organizational design and structural alignment with the Group's strategic direction.
• Advise the Board and senior leadership on corporate strategy formulation and execution.
• Identify and implement structural optimizations to improve agility, scalability, and responsiveness.

Shared Services Company Development (Proposed Idea)

• Design, launch, and scale the Shared Services Center, including:

• Finance & Accounting
• Human Resources
• Procurement
• IT & Systems
• Administrative Services
• Define and manage SLAs, KPIs, and performance standards across service areas.
• Drive digital transformation, system integration, automation, and innovation within SSC operations.

Leadership, Talent & Culture

• Recruit and develop a high-performing executive team and workforce aligned with company values and strategy.
• Foster a performance-driven, service-oriented, and transparent organizational culture.
• Build effective talent development and succession planning frameworks.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with client banks, regulatory authorities, boards, and shareholders.
• Establish clear reporting mechanisms for SSC performance, financials, risks, and strategic progress.
• Deliver regular strategic updates and recommendations to the Board and shareholders.
• Ensure cost discipline, implement transparent charging mechanisms, and demonstrate measurable value creation (e.g., efficiency, cost savings, improved governance).

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior executive role leading group/corporate services or a shared services function.
• Proven track record in establishing and scaling shared services, governance frameworks, and operational excellence in a multi-entity or cross-border environment.
• Industry experience in banking or financial services is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in business planning, financial modelling, and strategic implementation at group level.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong understanding of risk, compliance, and regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience working in family-owned, multi-sector, or diversified group structures is an added advantage.
• Fluent in English; familiarity with regional markets and business practices is beneficial.

We invite you to write in to Kevin at k.chong@jondavidsongroup.com , with your updated CV (in MSWord format). We regret to inform only selected candidates will be notified. However, if you are not selected, we will keep your CV and contact you for suitable role(s) that comes along.
Kevin Chong
WA: +65-62957159
EA Reg No. R1109670
EA License No. 22S1412