Our Leadership

Mr. Franky Widjaja is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (“GAR”) and a member of its Nominating and Remuneration Committees. He has been a Director and Chief Executive Officer of GAR since 1996; and Chairman since 2000. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2019.

Mr. Franky Widjaja, aged 63, graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 1979. He has extensive management and operational experience, and since 1982, been involved with different businesses including pulp and paper, property, chemical, telecommunication, financial services and agriculture.

Mr. Franky Widjaja also sits on the board of directors of Sinarmas Land Limited (“SML”) and Bund Center Investment Ltd (“BCI”), both listed on the Official List of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. He has been a Director of SML since 1997; the Executive Chairman of SML since 2006; and a Director of BCI since 2009.

Mr. Franky Widjaja is a member of the boards of several subsidiaries of GAR, SML and BCI. Since 2003, he has been the President Commissioner of PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk, a subsidiary of GAR listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Currently, Mr. Franky Widjaja is the Co-Chairman of Partnership for Indonesia Sustainable Agriculture (PISAgro); the Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) for Agribusiness, Food and Forestry Sector; a member of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI); and a member of World Economic Forum (“WEF”): Global Agenda Trustee for World Food Security and Agriculture Sector.

Previously, from 2007 to 2015, Mr. Franky Widjaja was Vice President Commissioner of PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk and PT Duta Pertiwi Tbk; and he was also Vice President Commissioner of PT Puradelta Lestari Tbk until his resignation in May 2016, all subsidiaries of SML listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.  Mr. Franky Widjaja was Co-Chair of WEF: Grow Asia until August 2019.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
-Bund Center Investment Ltd
-Sinarmas Land Limited

Other principal commitments:
Nil

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
Nil

Mr. Muktar Widjaja is an Executive Director and President of GAR. He has been a Director since 1999; President since 2000; and was re-designated as Executive Director and President on 1 March 2018. He was Non-Executive Director from December 2006 to 28 February 2018. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2018.

Mr. Muktar Widjaja, aged 66, obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1976 from the University Concordia, Canada. Since 1983, Mr. Muktar Widjaja has been actively involved in the management and operations of the property, financial services, agriculture, chemical and pulp and paper businesses.

Mr. Muktar Widjaja is a member of the boards of several subsidiaries of GAR and SML. He is Vice President Commissioner of PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk, a subsidiary of GAR listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Mr. Muktar Widjaja is a Director and, since December 2006, the Chief Executive Officer of SML. He is the President Commissioner of PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk, PT Duta Pertiwi Tbk and PT Puradelta Lestari Tbk, all subsidiaries of SML listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
– Sinarmas Land Limited

Other principal commitments:
Nil

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
Nil

Mr. Rafael Buhay Concepcion, Jr. is an Executive Director and the Chief Financial Officer of GAR. He was appointed as a Director of GAR in August 2002 and as its Chief Financial Officer in January 2013. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2019.

Mr. Concepcion, aged 54, studied at the University of the Philippines where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1988. He later obtained a Master in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines in 1992 with scholarship from SGV Philippines.

Mr. Concepcion worked on regional projects and has extensive experience in corporate and financial planning. After 5 years with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Concepcion joined PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk, a subsidiary of GAR listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, and now holds the position of Vice President Commissioner. Mr. Concepcion also sits on the boards of several subsidiaries of GAR.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:

Nil

Other principal commitments:

Nil

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):

Nil

Mr. Lew is a Lead Independent Director of GAR, Chairman of its Audit Committee, and member of its Nominating and Remuneration Committees. He re-joined GAR’s Board of Directors in December 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Lew was a Director of GAR from May 1999 to May 2007. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2020.

Mr. Lew, aged 67, obtained a Master in Engineering from Cambridge University, UK and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University, USA. Mr. Lew was a Singapore Government scholar.

Mr. Lew was Senior Country Officer and General Manager for Banque Indosuez Singapore, where he worked from 1994 to 1997. He was General Manager and subsequently, Managing Director of NTUC Comfort from 1987 to 1993 and Executive Director of NTUC Fairprice from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Lew served as a Member of Parliament from 1988 to 2001. He was President of The Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation from July 2002 to June 2006.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:

– Broadway Industrial Group Ltd

– Golden Energy and Resources Limited

– Sinarmas Land Limited

– SUTL Enterprise Limited

Other principal commitments:

Nil

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):

Food Empire Holdings Ltd

Mr. Foo Meng Kee is an Independent Director of GAR, Chairman of its Nominating and Remuneration Committees and a member of its Audit Committee. He re-joined GAR’s Board of Directors in 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Foo was a Director of GAR from November 2001 to February 2006. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2020.

Mr. Foo, aged 71, holds an MBA from the University of Dubuque, USA; Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the Singapore Institute of Management; and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the Nanyang University of Singapore.

Currently, he is the principal owner of M K Capital Pte Ltd and M K Marine Pte Ltd. Since 2001, he has held various positions as an independent director of several companies listed on the Official List of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. From 1976 to 1998, Mr. Foo was with Hitachi Zosen Singapore Limited (now known as Keppel Shipyard Limited). When he was the Managing Director of Hitachi Zosen Singapore Limited, he led in the listing of the company on the main board of the Singapore Stock Exchange.

Mr. Foo has also previously served on the Committees of the Association of Singapore Marine Industries and the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists’ Association.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
– Bund Center Investment Ltd

Other principal commitments:
– M K Capital Pte Ltd (Principal owner)
– M K Marine Pte Ltd (Principal owner)

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
– Lee Metal Group Ltd

Mrs. Marie Claire Goolam Hossen is an Independent Director of GAR. She was appointed on 29 April 2021.

Mrs. Marie Claire, aged 50, a Certified Practising Accountant, is a member of the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants and an associate member of the Governance Institute of Australia. She obtained her Bachelor of Business – Banking & Finance from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia in 1993.

Mrs. Marie Claire has a combination of commercial experience in the financial services sector (global business) of Mauritius and in senior finance/accounting roles in Australia.

Presently, Mrs. Marie Claire is on the executive team, responsible for governance, risk and compliance oversight as Senior Manager/Chief Risk Officer at Santam Structured Reinsurance Limited PCC, an indirect subsidiary of a leading general insurer listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in South Africa. She is fluent in both English and French.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
Nil

Other principal commitments:
Senior Manager / Chief Risk Officer
Santam Structured Reinsurance Limited PCC

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
Nil

Mr. Christian G H Gautier De Charnacé is an Independent Director of GAR and a member of its Audit Committee. Mr. Gautier De Charnacé joined the Board of Directors of GAR in November 2018. His last re-appointment as a Director was in 2020.

Mr. Gautier De Charnacé, aged 71, graduated from Institut d’ Etudes Politiques de Paris in Economy and Finance, and he also holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Law in Paris.

Mr. Gautier De Charnacé currently sits on the Board of Directors of Hong Leong Finance Limited as an Independent Non-Executive Director, and on the Board of Commissioners of PT BNP Paribas Sekuritas Indonesia as an Independent President Commissioner. He was an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of Millenium & Copthorne Hotels PLC till 10 October 2019 before it was delisted from the London Stock Exchange on 11 October 2019.

Mr. Gautier De Charnacé was CEO Investment Banking Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Bank (“BNP”) prior to retiring in 2017, having held that position since 2013. He was with BNP since 1980. When he was with BNP, he was Head of Paribas branches and region in Seoul, Taipei and Los Angeles / Western US region (1980 – 1990); Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific region based in Paris (1991 – 1993); Managing Director and successively Head of Capital Markets and Corporate Finance for Asia Pacific based in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Hong Kong (1993 – 2013). Mr. Christian G H Gautier De Charnacé started his career in banking at Bank of America and he was Vice President of Multinational Division Paris and Houston (1973 to 1980).

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
– Hong Leong Finance Limited

Other principal commitments:
– Independent President Commissioner of PT BNP Paribas Sekuritas Indonesia

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
Nil

Mr. Khemraj Sharma Sewraz is an Independent Director of GAR. He was appointed on 15 November 2019 and his last re-appointment as a Director was in 2020.

Mr. Sewraz, aged 70, is a fellow member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA), and a member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He trained and worked in London, and has over 30 years’ experience in the audit, tax and advisory fields.

Since August 1989, Mr. Sewraz is the Managing Partner of Crowe ATA, Mauritius, which provides professional services. He is also a Director of Crowe Mozambique Limitada, Chexsys Consulting Ltd, HS Corporate Services Ltd and Al Jawaaz Holdings Ltd.

Present directorships in other Singapore listed companies:
Nil

Other principal commitments:
– Crowe ATA, Mauritius
– Crowe Mozambique Limitada
– Chexsys Consulting Ltd
– HS Corporate Services Ltd
– Al Jawaaz Holdings Ltd

Past directorships in other Singapore listed companies (2018 – 2020):
Nil