KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Eleven candidates are in the running for the chief executive officer position in FGV Holdings Bhd, said chairman Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid.

Speaking at the sidelines of an investors' conference here, Azhar confided that only two candidates are from within FGV.

"That appointment is important because we need someone to head the operations... Hopefully [it will be announced] very soon," said Azhar.

The CEO position in FGV was left vacant after Datuk Zakaria Arshad resigned on Sept 18, following his suspension on Sept 13.

Zakaria, a long-time Felda employee and a second-generation Felda settler, held the position from April 1, 2016 and survived a boardroom tussle with former FGV chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad.