KOTA KINABALU (Mon): Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin bin Datuk Hj. A Samad has been appointed as the new CEO of IDS effective December 1, 2018. He will lead the autonomous research body with the primary mission to assist the government in meeting the needs and aspiration of the people through research and analysis on development issues.
Dr Johan has extensive experience working in multi-national companies and spent 16 years with ExxonMobil before joining Yayasan Sabah as Deputy Director. After leaving Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Dr Johan started the technology company Dragonfly Robotix Sdn. Bhd. offering specialized services in aerial mapping and photography for clients like POIC, Sabah Ports Authority, international film companies and project developers. He is also a well-known writer and columnist at Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the Malaysian Insight and Daily Express, Kota Kinabalu.
Datuk Dr Johan is an alumnus of University of South Australia where he attained his Doctorate in Business Administration. His academic research was in organizational change using soft system methodology, building of world class organization using benchmarking of best practices, process mapping and the development of learning organizations. He holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing from University of Hull, UK and Diploma in Advanced Marketing from Bristol Polytechnic, UK. He is a life member and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Over the course of his professional career, Datuk Dr Johan has held several companies’ directorship, which includes Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd., Kimanis Power Sdn. Bhd., Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park, Asian Supply Base Sdn. Bhd., Petrosab Sdn. Bhd., and Yayasan Sabah Shipping. Datuk Dr Johan has also led the State oil and gas downstream planning under Malaysian Petroleum Resource Corporation (Pemandu).
Among his priority as the new CEO is to enhance IDS human resource capability by exposing them to lifelong learning through training not only at the local but also at the international level. He is also keen to foster team building among IDS staff so as to transform them into excellent team players. Datuk Dr Johan sees this as vital to ensure IDS remains relevant in this digital era and able to perform its function as an independent research institute as well as a think tank to the state government of Sabah. Furthermore, he is also concerned with issues such as poverty, national unity, oil royalty and MA63 which are also the current concern of the state government and would like IDS to be prepared to embrace the challenges ahead in these research areas.
Picture Caption: Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin Samad (left) received his letter of appointment from IDS Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.
