Management Changes in Tractors Malaysia, Auto Bavaria
Tractors Malaysia Holdings Berhad, a subsidiary of South-East Asia’s largest multinational conglomerate, Sime Darby Berhad, has announced the appointment of new managing directors for both its Motor Group and Auto Bavaria divisions.
Rajan Thurairatnam, previously the Managing Director of Auto Bavaria, has been promoted to Managing Director – Motor Group (Malaysia) with responsibility for strategy, business development and operations. In his new capacity at Tractors Malaysia, Rajan will be responsible for the identification and development of new motor and motor-related businesses in Malaysia, in addition to overseeing both Auto Bavaria and Land Rover Malaysia Sdn Bhd. He also serves as a director on the board of BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a 51:49 joint venture between BMW AG and Tractors Malaysia.
He joined Auto Bavaria in 1991 as Sales and Marketing Manager after having served in Tractors Malaysia’s Heavy Equipment Division for 16 years in various capacities. In 1997, Rajan was promoted to General Manager – Sales and Marketing, before assuming the position of Managing Director in January 2001. He was instrumental in building BMW into a highly desirable luxury brand in Malaysia and making Auto Bavaria synonymous with the marque.
Succeeding Rajan at Auto Bavaria is Dato’ Tunku Putra Badlishah bin Tunku Annuar, who assumes the position of Managing Director of the BMW dealer group. He was previously the General Manager of Sales and Marketing, having joined the company in 2000. Dato’ Tunku Badlishah has spent 15 years with the Sime Darby Group where he received extensive marketing and management exposure from postings to various subsidiaries across industries and borders.
In taking on his new position, Dato’ Tunku Badlishah sees his main task as strengthening Auto Bavaria’s position as the largest and most established BMW dealer group in the country. Auto Bavaria, a division of Tractors Malaysia (1982) Sdn Bhd, is part of the Sime Darby Group. It is the largest BMW dealer in Malaysia, with eight branches nationwide and the exclusive MINI dealer for Malaysia.
“With 15 years of experience as the official BMW importer and distributor in Malaysia behind us, we have the infrastructure, experience and credibility to be the preferred dealer for customers who want to experience the sheer driving pleasure of a BMW,” he said.
