KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Former AmBank CEO Datuk James Lim Cheng Poh has been appointed as advisor of Ho Wah Genting Bhd (HWGB), providing investment management and advisory services to the company’s board of directors.

Lim, 72, previously served as managing director and CEO of Ambank (M) Bhd in June 2004, and was subsequently appointed as managing director of business banking at the bank in June 2005, following the merger of business operations of Ambank Bhd and AmFinance Bhd, HWGB said in a bourse filing.

He also served as a director of AmAssurance Bhd and was also appointed to the board of LYC Healthcare Bhd in July 2016, before he left the company’s board in August 2020.

Prior to AmBank, he served several roles in Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd and was managing director of the group in 1983. 

He was appointed as senior group managing director of Hong Leong Bank Bhd in January 1994, before retiring from the group in October 2003.

During his time at Hong Leong Bank, he grew the bank from an asset base of RM3 billion in 1994 to RM45 billion with a pre-tax profit of over RM800 million for the financial year ended June 30, 2003.

“The board believes that the appointment of Datuk James will be valuable to the group,” said HWGB.

HWGB’s share price fell two sen or 3.1% to 62 sen today, giving it a market capitalisation of RM327.16 million.