Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian Aljunid | Big Tree

Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian Aljunid

Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian was first appointed as Group Chairman-designate of Media Prima Berhad on June 13, 2019. He officially became Group Chairman of Media Prima Berhad on July 1 the same year. He is also Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian brings with him over 30-years of professional experience in the insurance and technology sectors, as well as an in-depth understanding of emerging technologies and expertise in corporate transformation. He began his career with The American Malaysian Insurance Sdn Bhd in 1982. In 1986, he was promoted as the Penang Branch Manager. In 1989, he was promoted as the company’s Senior Regional Manager covering Penang, Perlis, Kedah, and Perak.

Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian had served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of companies in Media Prima Group. He was a Director of Merit Idea Sdn Bhd, and had served as a Director at Primeworks Studios Sdn Bhd, Media Prima Digital Sdn Bhd, Metropolitan TV Sdn Bhd (“8TV”), and Ch-9 Media Sdn Bhd (“TV9”). Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian was formerly a Director of Tanjung Offshore Berhad, AWC Berhad, Efficient E-Solutions Berhad, and Amanah Raya Reit Berhad.

He is currently the Group Chairman – Malaysia Operations for Western Digital. He is also serving as Director of all its subsidiaries including Western Digital Media (Penang), SanDisk Batu Kawan (Penang), Western Digital Substrate Johor and Kuching. Prior to this (Dr.) Syed Hussian held key positions within Western Digital such as the Senior Director in 2011 and earlier as Director of Asian Operations Support in 2000. In addition to his responsibility at Western Digital, Datuk (Dr.) Syed Hussian is a Director of Finisar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (now known as II – VI), one of the biggest global multinational companies in Perak employing close to 4000 employees. Both WDC and II – VI are listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASDAQ) US.

Over the years, Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian’s contribution to helping Malaysian students get access to quality education has been widely acknowledged by the country’s leading varsities. Datuk (Dr) Syed was appointed to the Board of University Malaysia Sarawak, an appointment supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Sarawak based university. He is also the CEO@Fakulti for Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic and Chairman of the institution’s Industry Advisory Board since 2020. At Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTem), he is an Adjunct Professor and the CEO@Fakulti for the institution. His many contributions to UTeM was recognised in 2019 when he received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering Technology. Other roles in education include as the Advisor of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Entrepreneurship Programme and Chairman of the WD-Ministry of Higher Education Campus Connect Program.

Datuk (Dr) Syed Hussian holds a Diploma in Insurance from the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS), in Tokyo, Japan, in 1988 and a Certificate in Insurance from Institut Teknologi MARA in 1982. He attended a Government Entrepreneurial Program at ASIA BUNKA Kaikan Tokyo in 1985. He also attended a Management Program course at Re GMBH in Cologne, Germany, in 1991.