IRGA Sdn Bhd, an agritech solutions provider, recently announced the appointment of Amit Guha, Managing Director of ARABI, and Velayuthan Tan, Chairman of Islands Own Pte Ltd, as senior RDCI advisors of the company. They were joined by Francis Lau Siew Yee, who took on the role of Group Accountant.
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Amit Guha, an agronomist and agri-economist by profession, has been directly involved in advancing the interests of ARABIS Agri, a science and knowledge-based research and consulting organisation geared towards providing innovative, technology-driven solutions to improve agricultural and agroforestry practices.
With over 30 years of experience developing solutions for agricultural and agroforestry systems in Malaysia as well as the region, Guha has been closely involved in the creation of computer databases to track and monitor agrotech and agricultural management data on oil palm and rubber plantations. He also conducts feasibility studies which also include the preparation of agri development plans and agri due diligence for plantation investment purposes.
Agriculture and plantation management industry veteran Velayuthan Tan joined Amit Guha as a senior RDCI advisor of IRGA. He brings over 40 years of industry experience in construction and agricultural business development, and has spent a considerable portion of his career working closely with plantation owners in Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
He has served as the Group Executive Director of IJM Plantations Sdn Bhd, later taking on the roles of CEO and Managing Director, before being appointed as CEO of IJM Plantations Bhd, Indonesia. Velayuthan is presently the chairman of his own agricultural business concern, Islands Own Pte Ltd, based in the Solomon Islands, where Vela and his team are pursuing rejuvenation efforts of the coconut industry through technological innovation.
The addition of Velayuthan Tan and Amit Guha as senior advisors to IRGA will strengthen its decision-making capabilities with regard to the deployment of its agricultural advisory services as well as its agritech-focused product development initiatives.
The Company also announced the appointment of Francis Lau Siew Yee as the new Group Accountant. Prior to this appointment, he was a General Manager of Finance and Operations at Bridgestone Tyre Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. He spent most of his career involved in financial administration and operational strategy development as well as spearheading many process improvement projects and transformational initiatives.
Francis Lau holds an MBA (International) from the Swinburne University of Technology and is well versed in a wide range of technical areas including change management, risk management, policies and procedures, and operational excellence, to name a few. His broad scope of technical expertise as well as his skill and experience in implementing high-impact and transformational business practices will bring added value to IRGA in optimising organisational strategy and operational excellence.
Francis Lau will support CEO Girish Ramachandran in executing the Group strategy and vision of becoming global agritech enablers in plantation and organic farming sectors through operational excellence and delivering high-quality services.
As IRGA welcomes Velayuthan Tan, Amit Guha and Francis Lau Siew Yee into their designated roles within its operations, the company is infused with a broad range of vital expertise which will enable it to make operational decisions that calibrate business strategy and management practices to a level that achieves the highest in industry standards.
Source: IRGA
