UEM Sunrise CEO Wan Abdullah passes away

KUALA LUMPUR: UEM Sunrise Bhd managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim, whose stewardship had led the property development company’s revenue to grow from RM511.65 million in 2008 to RM2.43 billion last year, passed away yesterday after a short illness.

In a statement yesterday, UEM Sunrise said Wan Abdullah, 56, was an inspirational leader who oversaw the transformation of the company into a leading Malaysian and international property player.

“He was also a devoted husband and a father and he passed away peacefully with his family at his side,” it added.

Wan Abdullah, who relinquished his posts on Tuesday, had been on medical leave of absence since December last year.

“Though he had resigned as an executive director of UEM Sunrise on Feb 25, he was still part of the UEM family as his employment contract was transferred to UEM Group Bhd,” said UEM Sunrise.

In his absence, UEM Group MD and CEO Datuk Izzaddin Idris has been performing Wan Abdullah‘s duties and functions as executive director.

“Izzaddin will continue to perform this role and business will continue as usual,” said UEM Sunrise.

Wan Abdullah was appointed to the board of UEM Sunrise on Sept 15, 2008. He joined UEM Land Bhd on Jan 1, 2006 as the MD. He was part of the team who saw the listing of the company on Bursa Malaysia in November 2008 and the acquisition of Sunrise Bhd in 2010, which led to the rebranding of UEM Land to UEM Sunrise.

Prior to that, he was the group CEO of United Malayan Land Bhd.

From 1996 to 2004, he was attached to then Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd, where he last held the position of director of property division. In that capacity, he was tasked to lead the property development activities of the group, as well as subsidiaries, Highlands & Lowlands Bhd and Guthrie Ropel Bhd. He was also responsible for the conceptualisation and submission of plans for the Guthrie Corridor Planned Communities, which covered an area of 11,650 acres (4,713.59ha) linked and accessed by the Guthrie Corridor Expressway.

Prior to that, Wan Abdullah spent 10 years with the Emkay group of companies, where he held several positions, including group executive director.


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 27, 2014.