KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Entrepreneur Datuk Hazimah Zainuddin has been appointed as the new chairperson of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB).

She replaces former Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, who resigned as PUNB chairman effective June 25.

In a statement today, the Prime Minister's Office also announced the appointment of four new directors of PUNB.

They are Syed Naqiz Shahabuddin Syed Abdul Jabbar (senior partner at Naqiz & Partners), Zarir Mohd Salleh (Head of Government - Linked Companies Department and Financial Institutions at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group), Nurjesmi Mohd Nashir (executive director of JP Morgan Chase Bank Ltd) and Azwan Baharuddin, (managing director of Accenture Malaysia)

Hazimah is the founder and managing director of Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd. She also sits on the Small Business Enterprise (SME) business advisory panel.

She also served as a director of the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research Sdn Bhd and ambassador to Commonwealth Business Women.

Prior to this, Hazimah also sat on  the board of directors of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and Scientex Bhd. She also served as a council member of the  Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers and  chairperson of the Women Association of Entrepreneurs of Malaysia.