Chairman, IRGA Sdn Bhd

M.R. Chandran is a veteran of the agro-commodity industry with over 60 years of professional experience in the executive management of business operations within the plantation tree crop commodity sector. He retired as Director and head of Plantations of Franco-Belgian multinational, Socfin Company in 1995 having served for 33 years.

He continued to be active in the plantation sector, with his appointment as the start-up Chief Executive of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association in 1999. He is currently Commissioner of PT Agro Indomas Group Indonesia, Chairman of IRGA Sdn Bhd, Director of Saraya Hygiene Japan, Director of Incorporated Society of Planters, Director of ISP Management Sdn Bhd, Governor - I.S.P. School Association, Senior Advisor to 27 Advisory Sdn Bhd, Vice President of MOSTA, and Council Member of The Malaysian Estate Owners’ Association. Previously, he held the position as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of IJM Plantations Bhd.

In 2003, he was appointed as the Chairman of the first Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), elected as a Vice-President of the Board during 2004/2005 term, and continues his connection as the Advisor to RSPO. 

He holds Trusteeship positions in the Malaysian Estates Staff Provident Fund, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri B. Bek-Nielsen Foundation, The Planters Benevolent Trust of Malaysia, Raja Alias Foundation, and The All Malaysia Malayalee Association. 

M.R. Chandran was educated at Kings’ College South Australia, and a graduate of the University of Adelaide in Agricultural Economics and Technology. He has been honoured with the Kesatria Mangku Negara by the Government of Malaysia, the Fellowship awards of the Incorporated Society of Planters, the Malaysian Oil Scientists’ & Technologists’ Association, the British Institute of Management, the Malaysian Institute of Management, and the Honorary Membership of RSPO.