Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has appointed Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2019. Abidin will succeed Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh who has been at the helm of Perodua for nine years and also the longest-serving President and CEO. Perodua expanded its market share from 31.2 percent in 2010 to more than 37 percent as of year-to-date 2018, under Aminar’s leadership. He also initiated the transformation initiative within the Perodua Group.

Tan Asmat Kamaludin, the Perodua chairman, thanked Aminar for his contribution to the company and the automotive industry.

The automaker has also embarked on an RM1.3 billion investment to build Malaysia’s first energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) plant, Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, as certified by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Zainal Abidin was previously the Vice-President of Perodua Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd.

Abidin will further efforts to work on improvements in efficiency and competitiveness and expand Perodua’s export business.

“Zainal has also proven his ability to work well with all shareholders, including Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan in bringing new technology to Perodua and encouraging investment within the country,” Asmat added.

Aminar’s tenure as Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer ends December 31, 2018, and Zainal will take the helm from January 1, 2019. Abidin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems and Accounting from the Pacific Lutheran University, Washington, USA. In 1995, he began his career in Perodua in the cost control department and was directly involved in creating Perodua’s manufacturing cost structure.