Zaiton Abdullah
Vice President, Group Human Capital Management
Kuala Lumpur
Summary
Senior HR professional with over 25 years of experience in multinational and public listed companies across various industries including insurance, oil & gas, banking, and hospitality. Possesses extensive global exposure from working in Malaysia and the Netherlands, demonstrating a proven track record of supporting teams from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa. Offers strong expertise in HR operations, including HR policies, performance management, remuneration & benefits, and talent management. Successfully led initiatives in learning & development, HR systems & processes, diversity & inclusion, international mobility policies, and employee engagement. Skilled in effectively managing diverse and global teams.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Vice President, Group Human Capital
MNRB Holdings Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
05.2022 - Current
- On a journey of transforming the HR team towards Operational Excellence and continuous improvement and simplification in providing support and services to three (3) subsidiaries including the Holding company
- Working with all levels of stakeholders including four sets of Senior Management teams and Boards
- Monthly meetings with Senior Management and bi-monthly Board Committee (Nomination & Remuneration Committee) and four different Boards
- Provide leadership and guidance under current portfolio (18 in total, 5 direct reports) that includes Talent Management, Recruitment & Manpower Planning, Learning & Org Development, Compensation & Benefits, HR Shared Services and Young Talent & Branding
- Talent Management: Introduced a structure to ensure robust succession plans are in place for all entities within the Group
- This included introduction on skill pool talent forums and Group talent reviews
- Introduced Graduate Program to attract and hire high potential fresh graduates as part of talent pipeline
- Implemented a new methodology of identifying high potential via Assessment Centre by collaborating with experienced provider with a proven record
- To date, over 150 staff across the group have been assessed
- Recruitment & Workforce Planning: Simplified the recruitment process and enhanced capability of the recruiters to improve performance
- Introduced structure to allow for better communications with business leaders and the hiring managers
- Revamped the workforce planning and simplified the HR budgeting process that reduced duplications while still able to ensure the budget submitted are sufficient to fund all HR related spend and costs
- Introduced New Joiner Incentive as part of the hiring tool that can be used when hiring someone from a different, and usually more competitive, pay market without distorting internal equity
- Learning & Organisation Development: Developed a Learning Framework that encompasses development interventions of talent on leadership, technical and professional development
- Ideated the program “EPIC” for MNRB based on the vision of “Developing People through Inclusive Opportunities.” Install a new structure to manage learning budget by introducing a LOD guiding principles to ensure budget utilisation is optimised including use of HRDF
- Young Talent & Branding: Revamped the scholarship selection process by introducing assessment centre for the first time in 2024 intake
- Feedback from the applicants was incredibly positive
- Building capability of fresh graduate scholars when they start their career with MNRB by making it mandatory for them to complete the foundation program in Insurance for them to have a good understanding of the industry and products within the industry in addition to their on-job learning
- Compensation & Benefits: Conducted Total Benefits Review to review all existing benefits and made recommendations to NRC and Board on changes and improvements
- Currently pending Board approval
- Introduced a recognition and retention framework as a tool to identify key and critical talent with interventions that can be deployed to recognise or retain them
- HR Shared Services: Set up the HR Shared Services unit within HR to centralise transactional processes, remove duplications of work and increase efficiency
- Hired an experienced Team Lead to further scope out opportunities from within the HR team, and to train the staff on new ways of working.
Country Talent Manager
Shell Malaysia
11.2015 - 02.2017
- Set and drove the talent agenda for Shell Malaysia across the different businesses namely Upstream, Downstream, Project &Technology, Global Functions and Shared Services with full support from Country Leadership Team
- Revived talent forums for technical and commercial skill pools to promote cross business moves as part of developing top talent
- Successful outcome for four senior talents
- Drove succession planning for leadership positions including localization for expatriate roles
- Exceeded target by 25% with two senior roles for returning expats
- Active collaboration with regional talent team to raise visibility of Malaysian talent with the objective of securing roles outside of Malaysia as part of their development and progression
- Executive Committee Member of the Shell women network (SWAN), collaborating closely with the chairperson in driving SWAN agenda in creating a more inclusive workplace and help making Shell Malaysia an attractive company to attract and retain female talent
- Member of the PRODIGY Operational Steering Committee, an industry training program lead by Petronas to produce technical talent for the O&G industry in Malaysia
- Other members include HR leaders from other O&G companies based in Malaysia
- Stakeholder interaction included Country Chair, VPs of each business and global VPs for the business and functions.
Global Policy Manager
Shell Business Operations
The Hague, Kuala Lumpur
09.2011 - 10.2015
- Started role for the first 2 years in The Netherlands and continued to operate virtually from Kuala Lumpur, reporting to VP HR who was based in London for second half of the assignment
- Member of the global Shell Business Operations HR leadership team, providing HR support to the businesses operated within the shared service organisation i.e., Finance Operations, HR Services, Contracting & Procurement, Distribution, Global Lubricants, and IT
- Provided expert guidance and partnered senior leadership on arriving at workable solutions to retain top talent and ensuring business continuity in a rapid growth market
- Improved retention of top talent by 100%
- Provided leadership and coaching to centre HR and Policy leads in Malaysia, Philippines, India, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Poland
- Led the Policy and Rem & Ben agenda for the centres to ensure strategic responses to the competitive local market pressures
- Ensuring consistent and compliant implementation of global policies by local HR teams across six centres
- Conducted HR reviews with centres to identify hot spots and agreed remedial actions
- Actively involved in building capability of HR teams in centres in areas such as managing pay pressures, international mobility and business partnering
- Designed and conducted virtual training programs for staff members across the centres to enhance their understanding of new policies and procedures.
- Contributed in setting up of the seventh shared services centre in Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
- Stakeholder interaction included Global VPs of businesses and functions, country HR directors, regional HRVPs, country business leaders, country HR leads, HR Shared Services, and country HR teams.
Policy, Process & Systems Manager
Shell Development Kashagan
The Hague, Netherlands
09.2009 - 09.2011
- Led a team of Policy and Process & System specialists in developing HR policies and implementing a HR system for the joint-venture company
- Gained insight and experience in setting-up HR for a JV company in a major project
- Provided policy steer and advice ensuring smooth re-deployment of employees during demobilisation
- Stakeholder interaction included Business HRVPs, corporate and functions Global HRVPs, JV partners HR team and HR Shared Services teams.
Global Policy, Process & Systems Advisor
Shell Downstream
01.2005 - 08.2009
- Member of the Downstream East HR Leadership team
- Project management and successful implementation of the HR system in ten countries within the region on schedule and within budget
- Led the annual budgeting exercise and track HR costs for the region by working closely with the regional HRVP and country HR Managers
- Led the regional data focal points network to improve data quality for the East countries
- Stakeholder interaction included Regional HRVP, global HR Managers for the businesses and functions, country HR managers, country HR teams, HR Shared Services teams, and project team leaders for Shell HR IT implementation.
Learning Manager / HR Account Manager
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
07.2001 - 12.2005
- Re-design and re-launch of the On-boarding program for new employees
- Accountable in smooth implementation of the Mentoring program for Graduate hires
- Regional coordinator for Job Evaluation for the support functions
- Collated input and participated in the discussions with Job Evaluators and Line
- Provided HR advice and support to eleven different Line Managers for key HR processes namely Performance Management, Recruitment and Talent pipeline health check
- Stakeholder interactions included country Business and Functions leaders, regional HR managers and country HR team.
Learning & Development Manager
ABN AMRO Bank Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
04.1999 - 07.2001
- Managed learning budget for the bank
- Delivery of learning plans for the bank in line with learning needs identified
- Implemented a new tool for employees’ development called IDP (Individual Development Plan) to all bank employees.
Training Manager
Parkroyal Hotel
01.1995 - 01.1999
- Started as the Training Officer and promoted to Training Manager in 1997
- Designed and delivered training programs for hotel’s 450 employees
- Interviewed, recruited and on-boarded new employees
- Assisted the HR Director in other areas of HR i.e., Employee Engagement and Employee Relations.
Education
Design Thinking -
MaGIC Academy
Kuala Lumpur 09.2018 - 09.2018
Certified Trainer -
Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF)
Kuala Lumpur 06.2017 - 06.2017
Skills in Business Partnering -
Shell Open University
Kuala Lumpur 08.2015 - 08.2015
Certified Chartered Member - Human Resources Management
Chartered Institute of Personnel And Development (CIPD)
United Kingdom 06.2014 - 06.2014
Certificate in Personnel Management -
Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management
Kuala Lumpur 01.2001 - 06.2001
Advanced Trainers Programme -
Australian Hospitality Review Panel
Australia 07.1997 - 07.1997
Bachelor (Hons) in English Language with Education Studies -
University of Essex
United Kingdom 09.1987 - 09.1992
Skills
Team Leadership
Strategic Planning
Coaching and Mentoring
Decision-Making
Organizational Development
Talent Acquisition
Workforce Planning
Succession Planning
Retention Strategies
Compensation management
Adaptability and Flexibility
Critical Thinking
References
References can be provided upon request.
Timeline
Vice President, Group Human Capital
MNRB Holdings Berhad
05.2022 - Current
Design Thinking -
MaGIC Academy
09.2018 - 09.2018
Certified Trainer -
Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF)
06.2017 - 06.2017
Country Talent Manager
Shell Malaysia
11.2015 - 02.2017
Skills in Business Partnering -
Shell Open University
08.2015 - 08.2015
Certified Chartered Member - Human Resources Management
Chartered Institute of Personnel And Development (CIPD)
06.2014 - 06.2014
Global Policy Manager
Shell Business Operations
09.2011 - 10.2015
Policy, Process & Systems Manager
Shell Development Kashagan
09.2009 - 09.2011
Global Policy, Process & Systems Advisor
Shell Downstream
01.2005 - 08.2009
Learning Manager / HR Account Manager
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
07.2001 - 12.2005
Certificate in Personnel Management -
Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management
01.2001 - 06.2001
Learning & Development Manager
ABN AMRO Bank Berhad
04.1999 - 07.2001
Advanced Trainers Programme -
Australian Hospitality Review Panel
07.1997 - 07.1997
Training Manager
Parkroyal Hotel
01.1995 - 01.1999
Bachelor (Hons) in English Language with Education Studies -
University of Essex
09.1987 - 09.1992
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