Board Members and CEO
Chairman of the Board
Country Chairman, Myanmar and Cambodia
Jardine Matheson
After graduating from Bristol University, Peter joined PwC’s London office and qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 1981 and subsequently embarked on a career in commerce that has focused on family businesses.
Post qualification he spent over 20 years with the Jardine Matheson group working in a number of senior finance and management roles in Asia and the Middle East, including significant periods in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. He worked as the Finance Director of several listed and private companies during which time he led a number of major corporate acquisitions and the development of joint venture business initiatives in emerging markets.
Peter then embarked on a career in consultancy, leveraging his diverse chartered accountancy skills in international and emerging market environments. He became the first non-family Managing Director of the esteemed Al Fahim Group based in Abu Dhabi in 2005, before joining as a partner of HBG a private equity firm based in Dubai in 2008. In 2012 Peter was engaged and successfully led the expansion and development of the ICAEW Middle East operations in the Middle East.
In 2014 Peter was re-engaged by Jardine Matheson to head the group’s development of its business portfolio in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Head of Communications and External Affairs
Unilever Myanmar Limited
Alex Nyi Nyi Aung holds Executive Master of Public Administration (E-MPA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (E-MBA) degrees from the Yangon University of Economics. He attained a bachelor of engineering degree majoring in textile from the Yangon Technological University. Having worked in various multinational organizations including the United Nations Development Programme and Asian Development Bank for several years, he has extensive experience in the field of strategic communications, public relations, inter-agency/governmental coordination, journalism, policy advocacy, regulatory affairs, industry relations, humanitarian and development, social media, business management, program/project management, crisis management, corporate social responsibility and business sustainability.
Currently he is heading the Communications and Corporate Affairs unit for Unilever’s operations in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Alex Nyi Nyi Aung is one of the BoD members of SUN Business Network in Myanmar and the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar. He is also an executive member for two not-for-profit social enterprises namely Myanmar Business Executive Association (MBE), and Myanmar Public Administration Network (MPAN).
Principal
British School Yangon
My degree is from Leeds University (College of Ripon & York St John) where I studied English and French. I also hold a Masters in Education (Leadership & Management) from the Open University. My BA incorporated studying at the University of Grenoble (French) and VU Amsterdam lLinguistics) giving me an early taste for living overseas. I began my teaching career almost 17 years ago and I have taught in both international and UK schools. I taught in the Nord Anglia school in Bratislava for over four years and before arriving in Warsaw was teaching French in an Ofsted outstanding girls’ Grammar school in the UK where I was also Head of Work Related Learning and Careers Education Information and Guidance.
During my time in Warsaw I held several positions, Deputy & Head of Department in English and Head of Year 7 and then took up the position of Head of Secondary from 2015-2021. I was appointed Principal of The British School Yangon, a Nord Anglia Education school, in January 2021 and arrived in Yangon to re-open the campus for face to face learning in August 2022. Prior to entering teaching, I worked for over ten years with an international airline and I have also worked in British Embassies in Beijing, Dubai and Casablanca in various roles including commercial, administration and entry clearance work. I have two children – William, studying Economics in the Netherlands and Annabel, starting her second year of medicine at Exeter. I love travelling and have lived in many different countries including China, Iran, UAE, Slovakia and Morocco mostly through my husband’s job in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Director
Pragma Ventures Ltd
Catherine Smith is Chair of the Professional Women’s Network (under the Chamber) and has been an active board member of the Chamber for more than 4 years. She has lived in Myanmar for more than 7 years, where she has established several successful startups, in business services and tourism, acted as advisor on market entry to overseas companies, and consulted to foreign and local businesses on tourism, marketing, property and consumer services.
Catherine is currently running her own business – Pragma Ventures – which is focused on reviving sericulture in Myanmar. Pragma works with, and trains farmers in Chin State to support mulberry planting for silk production, and then develops hand-woven product for local sale and export (www.pochisilk.com). Catherine is passionate about female empowerment in her business - Pragma runs regular training programs with farmers and weavers to encourage farming communities to amplify the voice of women in daily life, and elevate them to leadership roles.
She has 25 plus years working in Hong Kong, Indochina, Sri Lanka, Scandinavia and Russia working for, among others, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros; and has experience across a range of business sectors. She holds a degree in French & Italian from studies at the universities of Leicester, Bordeaux and Pisa, and a business diploma from London Business School.
Contact: [email protected]
Managing Director
KBZ Bank
Devanandan Palmer Batumalai (known as Devan), is the Managing Director of KBZ Bank, Myanmar. KBZ Bank is the largest private bank and largest employer in Myanmar with over 14,000 employees.
Devan (as the former Head of Learning & Development and Talent) has been with KBZ Bank since October 2017 and has achieved significant milestones for the Bank, some of which are:
- Putting in place a Learning & Development and Talent Management Strategy and Framework;
- Introduced digital initiatives in learning – KBZ YouTube channel and KBZ Digital Learning Academy;
- Introduced a digital and face to face assessment centre for leadership roles;
- Introduced a 108 Trainer Programme that enables 15,000 employees to be trained at any point;
- Introduced a self-sustaining mechanism of training that continuously trains 200,000 agents and merchants across the country to be able to effectively use digital payment to serve their customers. This is currently the fastest growing digit payment bank in the world.
Devan has held leadership roles in learning and talent in several organisations since 2009, namely in the banking, technology and FMCG industries. For a significant part of his career, his role has included building learning and talent management frameworks.
As of 1st of February 2020, Devan was appointed the Value Centre General Manager & Head of Digital Professional Services (DPS), he is leading the digital transformation of support services to the Bank across all 400 branches supporting 14,000 employees. As Head of DPS, he leads a team of 142 leaders and 3,000 employees nationwide.
He is a catalyst for improvement and transformation, thrives on motivating leaders and enjoys developing employees at all levels across the organisation. Devan’s passion lies in the implementation of initiatives in the area of leadership development, coaching and talent management.
Managing Director
FocusCore Myanmar Co., Ltd.
Eddy is from Sussex, England, educated at one of the leading Woodard Private Schools. He started his career with Haymarket Media Group thereafter continued his career as an entrepreneur working in successful businesses across the region and has been based in Asia for 18 years. Locations include; Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore, and Myanmar from 2014.
He is a serial entrepreneur, building successful teams, creating a number of companies, and also the co-founder of Myanmar’s leading corporate secretarial, BPO and recruitment firms. Both regarded as best in their class.
He has worked with, and brought into Myanmar, one hundred companies that are successful businesses. He has valuable connections with influential business leaders in the region, and most importantly in Myanmar. He is a well rounded resource for corporates, with deep understanding of the political climate in Myanmar, adding value for foreign corporates, so they adopt the best incorporation patch. He has an excellent network throughout Government departments and with senior officials, facilitating highly effective preparation and submission of documents, in the manner preferred by the authorities.
He has a valuable understanding of the legal landscape, with strong knowledge of the Companies Law, assisting entrepreneurs, SME’s and corporates interested in Myanmar, providing contacts, result driven actions and guidance for optimum corporate set up.
Eddy is a very active sports enthusiast participating in triathlon, ironman and golf events worldwide and is a strong supporter of local community development.
Managing Director
AYA Bank Limited
Ms. Jasmine is a Managing Director – Head of Corporate Banking of AYA Bank and FI Advisory Unit with over 16 years of professional experiences mainly on Capital Market and Financial Institutional Practices. In her capacity with AYA Bank, Jasmine takes charge of Corporate Banking Business, Relationship Management Arrangement and Treasury Business Negotiations with Domestic and International Financial Institutions.
In addition to her MD- Head of Corporate Banking role, Jasmine also co-head and take several roles with AYA Financial Group (“AFG”). With AFG, she takes charge of AYA Trust Securities Co., Ltd as a Managing Director for Capital Market Activities including securities brokerage, Corporate Finance and IPOs, and as a member of Board of Directors with AYA Sompo Insurance Co., Ltd. From her capacity with Corporate Finance activities, she oversees and monitors diversified investment portfolios that includes existing, on-going and new business ventures of Chairman’s investment office and overall group entities’ new Mergers and Acquisitions [“M&A”], Joint Ventures and New Business Ventures.
Before joining AYA Bank and AYA Financial Group, Jasmine was a PwC Advisory Partner and local Lead Director/Partner for PwC Myanmar. She spent 11.5 years with PwC Singapore and PwC Myanmar for financial advisory and consulting whereas she had set up PwC Myanmar firm as one of the Intrapreneurs of PwC Singapore and it had grown to multi-million revenue contributor to PwC regionally.
Head: Leaders Development
Yoma Group
Martin graduated from the University of Natal, Durban, and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg South Africawith a BA, HDE and B. Ed. He spent the next five years as a schoolteacher in Johannesburg.
Martin then joined the world of business and has accumulated 30 years of experience in various Training, Human Resources and Human Capital Development roles in South Africa, Singapore, India, Malaysia and since 2016 in Myanmar. During this time he worked for some giants such as IBM, Honeywell and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in both country and regional roles.
Martin emigrated with his family to Singapore in 2000 and has lived and worked in Asia since then. He moved to Myanmar in 2016 after joining the Yoma Group as Group Head - Human Resources, and currently serves as the Head of Leaders Development ensuring continuity of leadership within the Yoma Group.
He has run over 30 Marathons and Ultra marathons but today relaxes with an occasional round of golf.
Chief Executive Officer
Prudential Myanmar Life Insurance (PMLI)
“Naing Aye Lynn joined Prudential Myanmar Life Insurance (PMLI) in August 2022 as its Chief Executive Officer.
Naing, who is a native Burmese, has more than 24 years of experience working across several global investment banks in New York and London such as UBS Investment Bank, JPMorgan and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Naing joined PMLI from Yoma Bank, one of the top retail banks in Myanmar. During his tenure at Yoma Bank, he held several senior positions, including his role as a Chief Customer Offer – Retail Banking, where he lead a network of over 2,000 retail banking staffs in a distributed network of over 80 branches across Myanmar, and his last role as Chief Products and Transformation Officer, where he led multiple strategic business and transformation initiatives.
Naing returned to Myanmar in 2017 after living abroad for 28 years and is married with two sons. “
Chief Representative
Standard Chartered Bank (Myanmar Representative Office)
Patrick became the Chief Representative of Standard Chartered Bank (Myanmar Representative office) effective 23 October 2017. He has been in Banking & Finance career since 2008; joined the Standard Chartered Bank in 2011, and has since held positions in Group Risk Information and Retail Banking credit risk in regional headquarter office of Singapore.
Previously, he oversees the Credit Risk and Operational Risk management for both Corporate & Institution and Retail Banking segments. His experience in both Corporate and Retail Banking brings innovative solutions and great value adds to the clients in Emerging markets.
A Burmese national, Patrick was a member of the project team which supported Standard Chartered Bank -Myanmar Representative Office opening in 2013, and has keen interest in the developments of Myanmar.
In 2014, he received an ‘exceptional outstanding award’ of Retail Banking Risk in Standard Chartered Bank.
A self-motivated individual, he started his own businesses before joining the Bank. We believe that his entrepreneurial spirit and drive to contribute to the long-term growth of Myanmar would help in the building of the Bank’s business in the country.
On22 December 2021, Patrick joined the British Chamber of Commerce Myanmar (BCCM)board.
Patrick holds a Bachelor degree in Finance from the Edith Cowan University (Perth, Australia), and a Master degree in International Political Economy (IPE) from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), which is currently the QS world ranking #13 university.
Peter Crowhurst
UK Director
Peter Crowhurst is a hospitality trained multi skilled business executive with an Asian focus since departing UK shores in 1988 to open the Pan Pacific Hotel Wuxi China. A two-year China tour turned into a 30+ year odyssey via Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Yangon. He led two business units of a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (COFCO) turning around their hotel and commercial and retail real estate assets. He undertook much the same during a decade with ING Real Estate part of the Dutch banking group, based in Shanghai and Taipei leading Asset Management overseeing an asset portfolio of approximately USD 750 million.
Peter arrived in Yangon in early 2013, running and developing real estate assets for Yoma Strategic Holdings as well as becoming founding director and subsequently the CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce, a post he held until January 2024. He is now Director UK for the Chamber as well as Senior Advisor for the Norstar Group of Companies, a partner member of the Chamber, building their recruitment business.
British Chambers of Commerce have featured throughout Peter’s career having been a Board Director with the British Chamber of Commerce China, Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Taipei, and Director & CEO British Chamber Myanmar. Peter steered the Chamber through the Covid and subsequent coup de Etat ensuring that the Chamber, together with the team and board, remained fully active and representative throughout. Peter will commit time and energy during 2024 to build out the UK presence for the Chamber and ensure that the Chamber is front and centre supporting the people of Myanmar.
In summary Peter provides the British Chamber a wealth of UK, Asian and Myanmar business and association management experience to draw on for the benefit of members.
Group Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Myanma Awba Group
Chief Executive Officer, Maha Agriculture Microfinance
Rajesh has professional experience of over 30 years in industries such as Agri, FMCG, Communications (Advertising & Media), Retail, Manufacturing, NBFC, MFI. He has worked in India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
He has been the Group Chief Financial and Investment Officer (GCFIO) and member of Board of Directors for Myanma Awba Group since 2015.
In addition to his GCFIO role, Rajesh is also the Chief Executive Officer, member of Board of Directors, Chairman of Remuneration and Nomination Committee (RNC), member of Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) and Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) of Maha Agriculture Microfinance.
Rajesh has also been the CFO and board member with a Private Equity backed, billion-dollar FMCG Company in Vietnam. He was a key stakeholder in Business Process Redesign, Compliance and Risk Management.
He was a key member in a Global Communications Group as regional CFO for Asia-Pacific Region and a board member of all 18 operating countries in the region. He is accredited with transforming the business from green field operations to ~ €1.2 Billion business, by Setting up of Legal Entities, Franchise Operations, JV’s in APAC. Rajesh has also successfully lead and completed acquisitions in China, India, Indonesia and Philippines.
He is equipped with strategic business planning, project management, business development, best practices implementation, process planning, risk assessment and management, negotiations, financial-management, people management, investor relations, treasury management and corporate governance experiences and skill sets.
He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Degree from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Cluster General Manager
PPHG Hotels Group, Myanmar
Ram Nurani is veteran hospitality professional with over 28 years of experience in the Industry spanning from Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe, the UK and the US. He has worked with global organizations as Hilton International, Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, Frasers Hospitality International and PARKROYAL / Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts.
He is currently the Cluster General Manager for Myanmar handling PARKROYAL Yangon, PARKROYAL Nay Pyi Taw and Pan Pacific Yangon and has previously held positions as Vice President Pre-Opening, Operations and Vice President Asset Management.
A Singapore National, he is educated in Sciences from University of Vienna, Austria, St. Stephen’s College New Delhi, India and has also completed several eCornell Hospitality Courses. Ram loves to serve the community and uplift Industries he operates in.
Director
British Council Myanmar
Sarah is currently Director of the British Council in Myanmar, with a career in education and assessment, English language, and cultural relations that spans over 30 years. For the past 23 years, Sarah has held various roles with the British Council in Italy, China, India, Malaysia and now Myanmar.
Having pursued an undergraduate degree in science, specialising in chemistry, biology and education, Sarah’s further studies included various qualifications in the English language teaching (ELT) profession and a Masters in ELT Management, focusing particularly on the issues involved in fair and large-scale assessment.
As part of the regional leadership team in her current and previous roles, Sarah has also led on large organisatoinal change programmes as well as mainstreaming approaches to Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director
All Myanmar Advisors
Thura is a Myanmar national who has spent over 20 years in the UK. He is a Co-Managing Director of All Myanmar Advisors (AMA); a leading Myanmar focused Corporate Finance, Strategic Consulting and Corporate Services firm with offices in Singapore and Yangon. AMA work across all sectors; and the clients include MNCs, DFIs, large and medium size local corporates, Donors and INGOs – including some members of the Chamber.
Thura is an active supporter of Myanmar entrepreneurs; he has been a business mentor in numerous accelerators and SME development programmes. Thura started his career in the UK, where he worked for leading global institutions such as Boston Consulting Group and Citibank. In addition to working in the UK, Thura has also worked across Europe as well in China, Thailand and Singapore. Thura holds a Masters in Management Science from Boston University and a BSc (Hons) in Economics from London School of Economics. Thura plans to bring his experience from AMA further assist the members of the Chamber as well as the overall business community in Myanmar.
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Fox
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Fox is the Chief Executive Officer of the British Chamber of Commerce Myanmar, appointed by the Board of Directors to the role in December 2023.
With a background in His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, Ian has international trade and economic experience from postings to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, where he was the UK's Charge d'Affaires and Deputy Ambassador to Belarus from 2016-2018. He is a qualified Senior Executive Coach accredited to the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, with +250 hours of coaching experience on issues such as change management, conflict resolution, critical conversations and relationship management.
Ian's role at the Chamber is to support British businesses interested in trade opportunities and investment in Myanmar. The role also supports foreign and local businesses interested in finding trading and business links to the UK. The main priority for Ian is to actively encourage and facilitate business between the UK and Myanmar and he does this by focusing on developing initiatives, leading events, supporting training programmes, encouraging Working Groups, showcasing thematic workshops, and building a membership base through the Chamber team, who are dedicated to the advancement of UK/Myanmar business relations.
Get in touch with Ian for more information about how the British Chamber of Commerce, Myanmar can help you at [email protected].