Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson

Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson has been the group CEO of Sime Darby Berhad since 2017, successfully leading the Malaysian multinational with a diverse portfolio across industrial, motors, healthcare, and logistics sectors. Operating in 19 countries, Sime Darby, under Jeffri’s leadership, has significantly strengthened its global presence, especially in the automotive industry.

Jeffri started his lengthy career at Sime Darby, where he held a variety of top finance jobs and was a trained chartered accountant. He served as the financial director of Tractors Malaysia Holdings, later becoming the managing director of The China Engineers in Hong Kong. While in China, he played a crucial role in developing Caterpillar’s distribution business in Xinjiang and southern China, which gave him a solid foundation in the industrial and power systems market.

Jeffri served as deputy group chief financial officer and senior vice president of Sime Darby’s Industrial Division for Singapore and China before being appointed group CEO. His experience across divisions and regions prepared him for the top role, where he has excelled in steering Sime Darby towards new opportunities, particularly in China’s electric vehicle market.

Under his leadership, Sime Darby registered a significant net profit of RM340 million in the third quarter of 2024, a 42 per cent jump from the previous year. This was driven by strong performances in the industrial and motors divisions, especially from operations in Malaysia and Australasia, as well as contributions from UMW Holdings Berhad. Jeffri’s focus on automotive expansion has further positioned Sime Darby as a leader in electric vehicle distribution.