RAM announces changes in management

Published on 03 Jan 2022.

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RAM Rating Services Berhad (“RAM Ratings”) has appointed Awang Za’aba Awang Mahmud as its new Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) effective 1 January 2022. He takes over from Chris Lee Wai Kit, who has stepped down as CEO. 

Chris remains Executive Director of RAM Ratings and will continue to serve as a Rating Committee member. He also remains the Group CEO/Executive Director of RAM Holdings Berhad (“RAM”).

Awang Za’aba has been with RAM for more than 26 years and was most recently its Group Chief Compliance Officer. As CEO, he will be responsible for further strengthening RAM Ratings’ position in the rating business space by providing strategic leadership as well as overseeing its day-to-day operations. He will continue to promote strategic business focus to ensure continuous and sustained growth for RAM Ratings.  

Hailing from Kuching, Sarawak, Awang Za’aba spent his formative years at St Joseph School. He graduated from Institut Teknologi MARA in 1989 and obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Ohio University in 1994. He brings with him more than three decades’ experience across full spectrum of functions and skills, having served more than a decade in senior management as RAM’s Group Chief Compliance Officer. Through the years, he led multidisciplinary teams and advocated for policy and structural changes within RAM to promote productivity, transparency and governance.

Meanwhile, Sazalina Kamarudin assumes the role of the Chief Compliance and Legal Officer, effective 1 January 2022. Sazalina joined RAM in April 2011 as its Head, Legal & Corporate Affairs. During her tenure, she has served as the Secretary of the Exco and management committees, as well as supported the Compliance Department in key areas on corporate governance, policy formulation and matters related to compliance with SC Guidelines on the Registration of the Credit Rating Agencies (“CRA Guidelines”) and other relevant rules and regulations. She holds an LL.B (Honours) from the National University of Singapore. 

The Board is confident that with Awang Za’aba and Sazalina’s experience and depth of expertise in the ratings business, they will continue to build RAM’s strong platform to strengthen corporate governance and accelerate business growth.

 

Media Contact
Sakinah Arifin
(603) 3385 2505
sakinah@ram.com.my