Mohd Azlan Shah Mohd Zin, 60, a Malaysian, has over 37 years of extensive experience in the palm oil and rubber industry.
Mohd Azlan’s professional journey commenced in 1987 as a Cadet Planter at Kumpulan Ladang Kedah under Harrison Malaysian Plantation Bhd, where he gained exposure in managing a division of 1,000 hectares of rubber plantation. Between 1989 to 2005, he held various managerial positions of several estates under Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. In 2005, he joined Guthrie Minamas Plantation as the General Manager of Estates in Riau Selatan/Acheh, overseeing a substantial 40,000 hectares of oil palm plantations.
Embarking on his journey with Sime Darby Plantation (SD Plantation) in 2008, Mohd Azlan initially served as the General Manager of Mechanisation/Precision Agriculture where he championed the application of efficient mechanisation to enhance production. Progressing through various roles, he continued to serve as General Manager in different zones, including Perak South and Selangor, and later as Regional CEO for the Central East Region, overseeing 50,000 hectares of estates and 7 mills in Selangor and Pahang.
In 2019, Mohd Azlan became General Manager at West New Britain estate upon joining SD Plantation’s subsidiary, New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL). He was subsequently appointed as CEO of Upstream, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands on 15 January 2021. Currently, Mohd Azlan also serves as the Chairman of Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association Inc (PNGOPRA) and Director of the PNG Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC).
Mohd Azlan holds a Diploma in Planting Industry Management from the School of Applied Science, MARA Institute of Technology (UiTM). He is a member of the Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) and a former Council Member of the Malaysian Agriculture Producer Association (MAPA).