YBhg. Datuk Sr. Mohd. Salem Kailany (Datuk Sr Mohd. Salem), aged 54, was appointed President/Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) of UDA Holdings Berhad (UDA) on 20 September 2019. He is a highly regarded figure in the real estate industry with more than 30 years of experience in property valuation, property development, project and strategy management, mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive experience in designing and leading cross-functional teams to improve strategy and profitability, innovate, and turn vision into reality. Making tough decisions in the company he oversees is among his areas of expertise as well.
As PCEO of UDA, Datuk Sr. Mohd. Salem manages and regulates the company's operations and investments throughout Malaysia where UDA has a foothold, through its Property Development and Asset Management portfolio, with a gross estimated asset value of RM3.8 billion. In 2022, UDA in collaboration with the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) successfully penetrated the Borneo market with a mixed development project (Neu Pendington) in Kuching, Sarawak. Under his leadership, UDA continues to explore further the development of waqf through the State Religious Council, including that in Sabah and Sarawak.
Besides maintaining a robust financial performance for UDA, he also aims to upgrade the company brand through sustainability efforts such as L.I.F.E., UDA Cares, USHA Niaga, entrepreneur development, and so on. Under his leadership, UDA received an impressive 16 awards in 2022, among them, for best property development and best management through human development. He ensures that UDA remains competitive by continually working towards business sustainability through the use of technology and sustainable development practices.
Prior to being PCEO of UDA Holdings Berhad, Datuk Sr Mohd. Salem had been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PNB Development Sdn Bhd (PNBD) since March 2016. He led PNBD to become a Master Land Bank corporation and strengthened the company's financial performance through strategic land sales and purchases. Before that, from 2007 to 2016, he was with Sime Darby Property Bhd as Senior Vice President (Property Development and Strategic Development) where he was mandated to manage 29 townships.
Datuk Sr. Mohd. Salem’s career took off at Jurunilai Bersekutu where he became Valuation Executive for a year before he moved to Hakimi Associates as Property Executive. He then became a project advisor at Business Focus Sdn Bhd in 1997, and subsequently Chief Operating Officer at Actacorp Holdings in 1998. In 2000, he was made Deputy General Manager and Senior Manager of Market Development at Golden Hope Development. In 2004, he moved to Guthrie Group Bhd as General Manager (Property) and subsequently became Senior General Manager at Guthrie Property Development Holdings Berhad in 2006.
Apart from this, he is a former Board Director of Felcra Bhd and a member of the Audit Committee Board, Procurement Committee Board as well as Chairman of Felcra Properties Sdn Bhd and Felcra Bina Sdn Bhd from 2018 to 2020. He was also the Chairman of Malacca Straits Inn Sdn Bhd from 2010 to 2016. Currently, he is a Board Director and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee (BARC) Board for Cyberview Sdn Bhd, Board of Directors Chairman of Bertam Properties Sdn Bhd and Chairman of Penang Golf Resort Bhd.
Datuk Sr. Mohd. Salem has a Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Real Estate Management from MARA Institute of Technology (now known as MARA University of Technology). He attended the Senior Management Development Program at Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia in 2008, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, Boston Massachusetts, United States in 2013.
