Directors Profile

Executive Chairman
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Dato’ Sri Edwin Tan Pei Seng was appointed to the Board of Paragon Globe Berhad on 27 October 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and E-Commerce Management from Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

Working experience and occupation:

Starting his career as Financial Executive upon graduation, he quickly progressed to the position Financial Controller and subsequently served as Executive Director in various private companies involved in hospitality, investment holding, property development and other sectors.

He is actively involved in diverse development projects in Johor Bahru. These include the development of industrial project comprising 32 units of semi-detached factories known as Bizhub Skudai 8, as well as residential projects such as Paragon Residences and Paragon Suites, luxurious serviced apartment in Johor Bahru. Additionally, he played a role in the establishment and full commencement of Paragon Private and International School in January 2017.

Dato’ Sri Edwin Tan received recognition as one of the 100 most influential Young Entrepreneurs in 2016. Additionally, he was honored with the Young Entrepreneurs Super Model Awards 2022 by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (“ACCCIM”). Furthermore, he was distinguished as the Johor Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (“JBCCCI”) Honorary Life President.

In his role as the Executive Chairman of Paragon Globe Berhad, he formulates and implements company policies, direct the Company’s strategy towards profitable growth and ensures adequate operational planning while closely monitoring operating and financial results.

Family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of the listed issuer:

He does not hold any Directorship in other public companies.

He is the brother to Dato’ Sri Godwin Tan, who serve as the Group Executive Director. Both are the directors and shareholders of the ultimate holding company Paragon Adventure Sdn Bhd. Except for the aforementioned relationship, he has no family ties with other Directors and major/substantial shareholders of Paragon Globe Berhad.

Group Executive Director
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Dato’ Sri Godwin Tan Pei Poh was appointed to the Board of Paragon Globe Berhad on 27 October 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Alliant International University, San Diego, California.

Working experience and occupation:

Starting his career as Management Trainee upon graduation, he steadily advanced to the position Executive Director in various private companies.

In collaboration with his brother, Dato’ Sri Edwin Tan, he also ventured into the residential development sector with projects such as Paragon Residences and Paragon Suites, luxurious serviced apartment in Johor Bahru. Additionally, he played a key role in the establishment and full commencement of Paragon Private and International school, which began its operation in January 2017.

Dato’ Sri Godwin Tan also actively participated in the management of Paragon Market Place, a retail mall located in Johor Bahru. Furthermore, he has successfully concluded collaboration with Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd for the development of healthcare business.

As the Group Executive Director, he is responsible for overseeing the administration and strategic plan that guides the direction of the organisation. This includes managing marketing efforts, operational planning, financial planning and overall management.

Family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of the listed issuer:

He does not hold any Directorship in other public companies.

He is the brother to Dato’ Sri Edwin Tan, who serve as the Executive Chairman. Both are the directors and shareholders of the ultimate holding company Paragon Adventure Sdn Bhd. Except for the aforementioned relationship, he has no family ties with other Directors and major/substantial shareholders of Paragon Globe Berhad.

Executive Director
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Madam Leong Siew Foong was appointed as an Executive Director of the Company on 16 June 2022. She graduated from TAR UC with a Diploma in Commerce (Business Management) and from The Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, U.K. in 1990 and 1992 respectively. She is a Chartered Secretary with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, U.K. (A.C.I.S.) and a member of MAICSA since 1994.

Working experience and occupation:

She has garnered more than 32 years of working experience in secretarial industry. She started her career in a renowned corporate secretarial firm and has extensive experience in corporate secretarial and operational management. She is responsible to developing and implementing the Group’s policies and strategies in terms of corporate governance and securities regulatory compliance.

Directorships in public companies and listed issuers (if any):

She does not hold any Directorship in other public companies.

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Age: 61
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Mr. Tee Boon Hin was appointed to the Board of Paragon Globe Berhad on 27 October 2017. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee on 27 November 2017. He is also a member of Risk Management Committee and Nomination Committee of the Company.

Mr. Tee is an Approved Tax Agent and Approved Company Auditor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Working experience and occupation:

He was trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with international firm, KMG Kendons in New Zealand where he received extensive experience in audit of Trusts and retail industry. His professional journey continued in an international firm, BDO Hogg Young Cathie in New Zealand which he gained substantial exposure to hospitality industry. Subsequently he joined Price Waterhouse Malaysia where he gained further experience in corporate advisory services.

In 1993, he commenced public practice under the name of Tee & Partners providing audit, tax and corporate advisory services. He also specialises in financial modelling and managing tax risk for small and medium sized-enterprises in property development, construction and retail sectors.

Directorships in public companies and listed issuers  (if any ):

Currently he sits on the Board of Directors of multiple private companies. On 18 May 2023, he retired as a Senior Independent Non-Executive Director from the Board of Directors of Ge-Shen Corporation Berhad, where he had been serving since his initial appointment on 20 April 2009. Previously, he served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of Focal Aims Holdings Berhad (now known as Eco World Development Group Berhad) from 9 November 1999 to 23 November 2013 and also held the role of former alternate Director of Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd.

Independent Non-Executive Director

Age: 68
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Dato’ Haji Ismail Bin Karim was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 27 November 2017. He was also appointed as Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Audit Committee, Risk Management Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Dato’ Ismail graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with a Diploma in Education and Bachelor of Arts with Honours (History).

Working experience and occupation:

He has held many key positions in governmental agencies and has many years of experience in various aspects including Johor Land Office, Johor State Economic Planning Unit, Johor State Secretary Office and Johor State Islamic Religious Department. He had served Johor Civil Service for over 35 years prior to his retirement as Johor State Secretary on 31 December 2016.

He is a President of the Johor State Football Association and Treasurer of Football Association Malaysia. He also sits on the Board of Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation.

Directorship in public companies and listed issuers (if any):

Currently, he serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of Dialog Group Berhad. Additionally, he was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of BCB Berhad on 15 July 2022 and sits on the Board of Directors of UTM Holdings Sdn Bhd on 1 July 2023.

Independent Non-Executive Director

Age: 68
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian

Qualifications:

Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr. Hj. Mohd Shukor Bin Hj. Mahfar was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 27 November 2017. He was also appointed as Chairman of the Risk Management Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics with University Malaya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science with Malaysia University of Technology, and Master of Taxation and Doctor of Public Administration at the Golden Gate University, United State America. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Management from UNITEN and Asia Metropolitan University; appointed the Adjunct Professor of various universities.

Working experience and occupation:

He started his career as a Bank Officer in 1978; a year later he took a leap to work with the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) as Assessment Officer. He was then rose through the ranks in IRBM, being appointed Deputy CEO of Compliance, Deputy CEO of Operations, and CEO in January 2011 until his retirement in December 2016.

Throughout the years, he received many accolades and awards, he was elected President of the Malaysian Association of Statutory Bodies and Chairman of The Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrations (CATA); and was awarded the CEO of the Year 2015 by The European Emerging Markets Awards and received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award-Outstanding Contribution in Shaping People by the Asia HRD Award.

Equipped with 37 years of vast experience both in taxation and management throughout his tenureship with IRBM, he now leads his own Tax and Management firm known as MSM Management Advisory. With his continuous engagement in the tax related field, he was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of McMillan Woods National Tax Firm, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti Utara Malaysia, and Chairman of Uniutama Education and Consultancy (up to December 2018). He also sits on the Board of Directors of Uniutama Management Holdings (up to December 2018), and Prokhas, a private limited company wholly-owned by Minister of Finance (up to September 2019), a Partner of YYC Advisors, an Advisor to Century Software (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. He is also a Board of Trustee at Yayasan Tenaga Nasional, a Partner of YYC Advisors (up to August 2019), and an Advisor to Century Software (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. He has also been appointed as Board of Director of Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia with effective from 1 August 2021.

Directorship in public companies and listed issuers (if any):

Currently, he serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of Censof Holdings Berhad and Minda Global Berhad. Additionally, in April 2023, he was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ann Joo Resources Berhad.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director

Age: 43
Gender : Male
Nationality : Malaysian

Qualifications:

Dato’ Jeffrey Lai Jiun Jye was appointed as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company on 1 February 2019. He is also a member of the Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Dato’ Jeffrey Lai graduated from Lincoln University, New Zealand with a Bachelor of Commerce and Management.

Working experience and occupation:

He assumed the position as the Director in JB Paper Carton Sdn Bhd and JBP Packaging and Hardware Enterprise upon his graduation in year 2000.

From 2014 onwards, Dato’ Jeffrey Lai has been appointed as the Executive Director of Kuopacific Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Kuopacific Malaysia Sdn Bhd is mainly involved in M&E Engineering, ELV Solutions, ICT Solutions, Data Center Solution, Education, Property Investment and Development, Retail Mall Management, Medical, F&B, Waste Management and Agriculture.

He is also Director and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Paragon Private and International School located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Paragon Private and International School was awarded for The Best Performance in newly set-up school by Lang International Corporate Titan Awards in 2018. He was also awarded for Best Intelligent Figures Brands Award 2021 (Top15) by China Press and National Consumer Action Council (MTPN).

Dato Jeffrey is actively involved with the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia and held the following positions:

1. Vice Chairman of Young Entrepreneurs Committee, The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), 2021-2024
2. Chairman of Young Entrepreneurs Committee, Johor Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (JACCCI), 2021-2024
3. 3rd Vice President cum Chairman, Youth Committee, Johor Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCCI), 2021-2023

Directorships in public companies and listed issuers (if any):

Dato’ Jeffrey was appointed as an Executive Director of Cabnet Holdings Berhad (“CHB”) on 3 September 2019. Subsequently, he was appointed as CEO of CHB on 1 June 2022.