30% Club Malaysia has announced Ami Moris, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maybank Kim Eng Group, the investment banking arm of Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank), as its Chair. In this role, she will lead the drive to advancing women leaders on corporate boards and management teams in Malaysia.
The 30% Club Malaysia is part of a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at board and senior management levels. Data points as at 1 July 2021 shows women representation on the boards of the Top 100 Malaysian Public Listed Companies (PLCs) stands at 25.5%, 4.5 percentage points away from reaching the 30% pivotal point. In addition, as of 1 July 2021, women occupied 17% of total board seats of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia, an increase of 6.3 percentage points from 2015. Currently, there are 4 all-male boards in the Top 100 PLCs.
As part of its DEI efforts at board levels, in 2017, the 30% Club Malaysia in collaboration with PwC Malaysia established the Board Mentoring Scheme (BMS). To date, 68 women have successfully undertaken this nine-month mentoring scheme and 33% of them have already been appointed to boards of companies. “Since our establishment in 2015, we have been on a DEI journey with key stakeholders to increase the representation of women on the boards and management of Malaysian PLCs. Moving forward, in order to sustain and continue our mission, the 30% Club Malaysia has adopted the Global 30% Club model which calls for corporations to play a more integral part in driving the campaign’s mission and goals by assuming a corporate sponsor position and taking on the Club Chair role on a two-year rotational basis.
“The corporate sponsor will appoint a leader from among its own senior talent to be the chair of the 30% Club and provide secretariat support to the Club,” said Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Founding Chair, 30% Club Malaysia. “I am delighted to announce that Ami Moris joins the 30% Club Malaysia as Chairman effective today. In Ami, I know that we have a strong advocate and influential business leader who embodies the Club’s mission of promoting gender balance at boards and senior management levels and promoting a culture of inclusiveness.” She added: “There is much more to do to achieve our aspirations. Maybank coming on board as a corporate sponsor marks a new chapter in our journey, reinforces the important role local corporations play in enhancing DEI, and accelerating the achievement of the targets set.”
Maybank Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said: “Becoming a corporate sponsor is a natural fit for Maybank given that we actively promote DEI throughout all levels of the organisation as it is integral to our mission, core values and business strategy. Not only do we practice DEI, we also advocate it through our own Diversity Ally programme and e-learnings. “As businesses change and adapt to new growth opportunities post the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need for the best and brightest minds at the Board and senior leadership levels of Malaysian listed companies to help shape sustainable, socially responsible and ethical organisations, as identified under the recently announced PLC Transformation Programme. Only by doing so, can we create a collectively better future that embeds sustainability as a purpose, driven by shared values.”
The incoming Chair of 30% Club Malaysia, Ami Moris, said: “The case for diversity on boards and senior management teams is a business case and the facts are on our side. Data now shows that companies with at least 1/3 women board composition correlates with a 38% higher median Return On Equity (ROE), naturally attracting better and larger investors. Our mission is to close the gap to 30% and start working with the next 100 listed companies as capital market leaders. “With an ESG-first (Environmental, Social, Governance) mindset moving global allocation of capital towards quality, diverse and inclusive companies, Malaysia needs to be well-positioned to promote the investability of our leading listed companies to maintain ASEAN leadership.” Ami continued: “I am honoured to take on this role at 30% Club Malaysia and work alongside the Advisors and Volunteers to garner support from business leaders in Malaysia, in the mission to improve inclusivity on company boards and at senior management levels.”
With this appointment, Founding Chairs Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, as well as Founding Executives Dato’ Abdul Aziz Abu Bakar and Anne Abraham will move into advisory roles. The 30% Club Malaysia hopes to continue and inspire debate and discussion at corporate leadership and board levels on gender diversity and its benefits to business; assist corporate boards in their engagement of qualified, board-ready women and support initiatives to build a pipeline of women in executive and non-executive roles.
