Krishnan Tan to step down as IJM chairman

Krishnan Tan first joined IJM Corporation Bhd’s board of directors in 1984 and took on multiple senior positions before being made chairman in August 2019. (IJM pic)PETALING JAYA: Krishnan Tan will be stepping down as chairman of IJM Corporation Bhd after deciding not to seek re-election to the company’s board of directors.In the company’s 2026 annual report, Tan said this was his final chairman's statement to shareholders after more than 40 years with the company.“I look back with immense pride and gratitude at what we have built together. I leave knowing the group is well-positioned for its next chapter of growth, and I wish IJM every continued success in the decades ahead,” he said.Tan, 73, will formally step down after IJM’s annual general meeting, slated for Aug 27.He first joined IJM’s board of directors in 1984 before taking on multiple senior positions in the company, including deputy managing director, group managing director, CEO, and executive deputy chairman.He was appointed as the company’s deputy non-executive chairman in 2014 before being promoted to chairman in August 2019.In his chairman’s statement, Tan said his final year in the top post was significant due to key events, namely the rejection of Sunway Bhd’s takeover offer, and the corruption investigation launched against himself and the company.He said the clearance given by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission following its investigations vindicated the reputation of both IJM and himself.“While these were indeed trying times where reputations were being questioned, shareholders can take comfort in the fact that the governance, integrity and ethical standards established by our founding leaders stood the test of one of the most challenging periods in the group’s history.“With these events now behind us, our attention is firmly on the future and the opportunities ahead,” he said.Tan expressed pride at having a hand in the progress IJM had made through the past four decades, growing into one of the country’s top construction and infrastructure firms.“It has been an extraordinary privilege to have been part of this journey … I hope the enduring values upon which IJM was built – integrity, entrepreneurship, excellence and long-term stewardship – will remain our greatest legacy.“With a strong leadership team, a clear strategy, and the continued support of our shareholders, I leave confid…