SD Guthrie Berhad (formerly Sime Darby Plantation Berhad), the world’s largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, has announced the appointment of Dr Tomas Koch as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective June 16, 2026.
Simultaneously, the 65-year-old German national has been appointed as a member of the group’s Sustainability Committee (SC), aligning with the plantation giant’s focus on navigating complex global environmental standards and supply chain tracking.
With Koch’s addition, SD Guthrie’s Sustainability Committee moves to an entirely independent configuration. This structural setup is increasingly preferred by international institutional investors pushing for unbiased environmental, social, and governance (ESG) oversight.
The reconstituted committee consists of:
- Jenifer Thien Bit Leong — Chairman (Independent Non-Executive Director)
- Dato’ Idris Kechot — Member (Independent Non-Executive Director)
- Dr Tomas Koch — Member (Independent Non-Executive Director)
Koch brings more than three decades of industrial transformation experience to SD Guthrie. He spent over 30 years as a Senior Partner with global management consultancy McKinsey & Company, where he directed more than 300 large-scale growth, operational efficiency, and digital transformation initiatives. His primary geographic focus centered on the energy and chemical sectors across Asia.
Following his retirement from active consulting, Koch transitioned into venture capital as a startup investor, taking hands-on board roles to guide corporate scaling. He currently serves on the board of Siam City Cement Public Company Limited, a major listed entity on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, and teaches corporate transformation at the Thai Institute of Directors.
A physicist by training, Koch holds both a Doctorate and a Master’s degree in Polymer Physics from the University of Freiburg in Germany. Market observers note that his scientific background and deep familiarity with Asian industrial supply chains will provide analytical depth to SD Guthrie as the company scales its operational technology and green energy initiatives.
