KUALA LUMPUR (March 10): Former Bursa Malaysia Bhd executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff passed away at the age of 63 on Thursday afternoon (March 10) after a battle with cancer, The Edge has learned from multiple sources.

Yusli was the executive director and CEO of Bursa, then known as the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, from April 10, 2004 to March 31, 2011.

His current roles included the chairman of Mudajaya Group Bhd and president of the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG). He also held directorships in FGV Holdings Bhd, AirAsia X Bhd, Westports Holdings Bhd and KPJ Healthcare Bhd.

When contacted, MICG CEO Roshni Jayantilal confirmed the news of Yusli’s passing, and said that it is a great loss to MICG and Malaysia.

“Datuk Yusli was a strong corporate governance advocate and a humble gentleman, a great mentor and leader that many admired and respected,” she told theedgemarkets.com.

Private investor and former investment banker Ian Yoong, who worked with Yusli when the latter was the CEO of CIMB Securities, recalled him as being a very fair and professional man.

“He was a meticulous CEO of CIMB Securities, very fair and professional. He qualified as a chartered accountant from the UK. He was possibly the most athletic CEO of a stockbroker as he could mix work with his love for football,” Yoong recalled.

It is understood that funeral prayers for Yusli are to be held at Masjid Bukit Damansara later on Thursday.