Dr Li Chunrong appointed Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional new CEO

DRB-Hicom Bhd and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd (Geely) has appointed Dr Li Chunrong as Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd’s (PONSB) new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective Oct 1, 2017.

Li will succeed Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali who will end his tenure on Sept 30.

The newly appointed CEO, Li said that the challenge would not be easy but he was looking forward to what has been in store for him.

“I am appointed to turn around Proton and I believe Proton will be revived as the number one local brand in the country and a leading brand in ASEAN,” he said during a press conference here today.

DRB-Hicom Group Managing Director, Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar will remain as Proton Holdings Bhd Chairman.

The other board members of Proton are Shaharul Farez Hassan and Amalanathan Thomas, both representing DRB-Hicom, and Daniel Donghui Li and Feng Qing Feng, both from Geely.

Meanwhile, the board members of PONSB are Syed Faisal (Chairman), Shaharul Farez, Amalanathan, Winfried Vahland, Daniel Li, Feng and Dr Nathan Yu Ning.

Apart from Vahland, the rest are also board members of Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, Proton’s wholly-owned distribution outfit.

DRB-Hicom holds a 50.1 per cent stake in Proton, which in turn holds a 100 per cent stake in PONSB, which is in charge of the automotive group’s main production, operations, manufacturing and marketing.

Meanwhile, Syed Faisal said it would not be an easy task to turn around Proton as the market is now more sophisticated and liberalised.

“The consumers today have a variety of choices, from Japanese to Korean and even European, besides local brands, that compete to get a piece of the 600,000-vehicle per year market,” he said.

He expressed hopes that with the strategic partnership with Geely, Proton would be able to challenge the market domestically and eventually rise in the ASEAN region.

“Proton today has at its disposal the global resources of Geely which encompasses technology and design capability in many countries.

“Together with Proton’s experience and knowledge, I am confident that Proton will rise to its glory once again,” he said.

In May this year, Geely, the owner of Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, had acquired a 49.9 per cent stake in Proton from DRB-Hicom.

-- BERNAMA