KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Malaysia's largest integrated poultry producer, Leong Hup International Bhd (LHI), has appointed Datuk Lau Joo Hong (pictured) as its group chief operating officer, effective today.

The announcement, it said in a statement, marks the first major appointment within the Leong Hup group since its listing on Bursa Malaysia in May 2019, and further empowers the founding family's second generation to assume more responsibilities as part of the group's wider succession planning and integral management.  

Joo Hong is currently an executive director of Leong Hup, as well as the chief executive officer of the group’s operations in Vietnam, with over 21 years of management experience in the integrated livestock industry.

According to Leong Hup’s 2019 Annual Report, he is the nephew of Leong Hup's executive chairman Lau Chia Nguang, as well as executive directors Datuk Lau Eng Guang and Tan Sri Lau Tuang Nguang, who is also the group CEO.

Joo Hong began his career in the family poultry business in 1991 and rose through the ranks to become part of the core team of the group’s poultry business, overseeing the entire operations of processing and marketing of chicken and related products.  

“Having successfully charted and executed the group’s growth strategy in Vietnam, Datuk Lau (Joo Hong) has cultivated strong relationships with local and regional stakeholders that will hold him in good stead in his additional role.

“Coupled with his background, diverse experience in the industry and in-depth knowledge of the group’s operations, the appointment of Datuk Lau as group COO will provide fresh impetus to the group’s geographical diversification agenda, charting the path for further growth in its markets in Southeast Asia. Apart from his new role as group COO, Datuk Lau continues his present position as CEO of the group’s Vietnam operations,” Leong Hup said.

The group added that it is upbeat on the longer term prospects of its markets within Southeast Asia, as it expects the region’s per capita consumption of poultry and by extension meat protein to remain robust and grow in line with increasing population and higher income levels.

"To strengthen its regional footprint, the company established a subsidiary in Myanmar in 2019, and aims to expand its presence in Cambodia further," the group said. Besides Malaysia, it also has operations in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, it added.

Shares of Leong Hup closed 1.5 sen or 2.34% higher at 65.5 sen today, bringing a market capitalisation of RM2.39 billion. It saw some 2.3 million shares traded.