TEAM
Jayapal R
Chairman
Mr Jayapal was the CEO of AEC Education Plc (UK Public Listed Company) during listing and subsequently the Finance Director before becoming Non-Executive Director of Malvern Education Plc (UK Public Listed Company). He has more than 38 years extensive Management experience of which 29 years in education.
He is currently the Board of Governor of St. John International School, Malaysia, Advisor to English Learning Group Pte. Ltd and Director of Alliance Corporate Services Pte. Ltd, Singapore. He is also the Deputy President of UK Accounting Group called McMillan Woods International, Chairman of Hallmark Capital Pte Ltd and Chairman of Hallmark Nominee Services Pte Ltd Singapore.
Mr Jayapal is the Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK (FCCA), the Fellow Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (FCA), Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) and the Fellow Institute of Certified Management Consultant (FCMC).
Mr Jayapal is one of the Founder Member and a Fellow of the Institute of management Consultants (IMC) and was its Past President.
Mr Jayapal has been instrumental in developing the Asian network for McMillan Woods, in particular, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Mr Jayapal was also instrumental in bringing Linguaphone Ltd (UK), specialized in English Language teaching to this regional in helping them tie-up a regional agreement with English Language Group for 15 countries.
Mr Jayapal has been an active in social work, he is currently the Chairman of Rotary Learning Institute (Charity), Member of Singapore Indian Education Trust and as active Grassroots Member in Teck Ghee Constituency, Singapore.
Su Jun Ming
Executive Director
Su Jun Ming is an accomplished executive with a multifaceted career spanning over 15 years in corporate finance and capital markets. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Hallmark Capital Pte Ltd, he has extensive experience advising a broad spectrum of clients—from small businesses to large international companies—on IPOs, RTOs, M&As, and other financial transactions. Notably, he has held leadership roles in international professional firms and is the audit committee chairman and lead independent director of a company listed on the Catalist Board SGX. Earlier in his career, Mr. Su was involved in corporate acquisition exercises for a Main Board SGX-listed company and worked with a MAS-regulated boutique firm, where he played a key role in successful IPO listings and advised listed companies on financial matters.
Mr. Su’s career milestones include a stint as Financial Controller for Investment Capital Partners Limited, where he spearheaded major restructuring efforts, and serving as an Associate Director in international auditing firm BDO LLP’s Singapore arm. He later became a Director of Alternative Advisors Pte Ltd, specializing in restructuring, insolvency, and corporate advisory services. In this role, he facilitated significant transactions, including the sale of a well-known tourist service provider for approximately US$100 million and the liquidation of a prominent F&B company. He also served as a Corporate Finance Director for a renowned e-commerce technology company operating in Southeast Asia. Mr. Su holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Central Queensland, Australia, and has multiple professional certifications, including as a Certified Valuer and Appraiser and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
TUNKU ISKANDAR
Director
He is the Group Managing Director of Melewar Group Berhad which has investments in various sectors including financial services, steel manufacturing, tourism, education, logistics, real estate development and construction. The group’s investments include the public-listed companies MAA Holdings Berhad, Melewar Industrial Group Berhad,Mycron Steel Berhad.
Tunku Iskandar was also the Chairman of Neucor Holdings Pte Ltd and Neucor Alliance (M) Sdn, which was in distribution and direct selling in Singapore , Malaysia and Indonesia.
In 2001, he was appointed to the National Economic Consultative Council (NECC) of Malaysia which was formed with the mandate to advise the Government on the country’s strategic planning.
Tunku Iskandar holds a Master of Science Degree in International Marketing of the University of Strathclyde , UK . He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing ( UK ), the Institute of Administrative Management (UK) and the Institute of Marketing Malaysia . In 1984, he received the “Triple-A” Alumni Achievement Award from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Philippines.
He was awarded the Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan (DNS) in 1987 and was also awarded the Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar Yang Terpuji (DPTJ) in 1989 by His Royal Highness Yang DiPertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Tunku Iskandar is the grandson of the First Yang DiPertuan Agong (“King”) of Malaysia.
MALAIAPPAN S
Director
Malaiappan comes with over 40 years of experience in Financial Management and Investment Control and strong eye for all regulatory compliance and advising client to achieve their financial and management related matters.
He is well respected amongst Chartered Accounting professional in Singapore & a Senior Audit Partner in McMillan Woods Singapore, which is a world-wide organisation of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers.
Malaiappan is a B.Com and a FCCA. He sits in many charities and non-profit organisation and very strong in social responsibility belief.
Mr. RATHNAM
Mr. Rathnam has served in senior positions at a number of investment firms, most notably Scudder, Stevens & Clark (now part of Deutsche Asset Management) in Boston, one of the oldest and largest investment firms in the United States. At Scudder, he founded and headed the yield bond, emerging market private equity, and emerging market bond departments. He has extensive investment banking and project experience in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and in Asia. Rathnam also writes a quarterly opinion column on investments for Euromoney Magazine in London.
Rathnam was educated at Dartmouth College (AB) in the United States, and Oxford University (D.Phil) in the United Kingdom. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He has served as a director of the Boston Society of Security Analysts. He is married with three children and divides his time between Singapore and the United States.
KRISHNAMACHARI TN (Chari)
Chari is an experienced Bank Professional and a Project Manager with over 30 years of experience in Technology, Finance, Operations and Client Management. Starting his career in Sales, Chari moved on to the banking industry. A certified Project Management Professional, he has handled several projects in Indian Bank, Deutsche Bank and American Express Singapore. He has extensive regional experience across the Indian sub-continent, Malaysia and Singapore and is based in Singapore.
His strengths cover Consultancy in areas such as Strategy, Cost Management, Project Finance & Management, Vendor Management and Negotiation. He holds a Masters in Computing from De Montfort University, UK and has a MBA from Nanyang Business School, NTU Singapore.
Mr. UMESH CHANDRA
Advisor, Renewable Energy
Mr. Umesh Chandra has over 30 years of proven experience in advisory business. Mr. Chandra’s core expertise is in the power/energy/renewable and infrastructure sectors. His experience includes a balance between public sector development projects and the private sector transaction business. In public sector development work, he has worked with government officials and state implementing agencies in policy, planning, strategy and decision making. In the private sector, he has assisted stakeholders in decision making across value chain from project conceptualization/development to due diligence, investment structuring, capital raising and financial closing. Mr. Chandra is trained in project economic and financial evaluation techniques, project design and structuring, and international procurement procedures. He has a flair for deal conceptualization/structuring, contract negotiation, strategic analysis and market/competitor intelligence. Mr. Chandra has a MBA from the US, a master’s degree in industrial management, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from India.
He has obtained Certification in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance and in Renewable Energy Applications. He has served on Boards of listed and private companies and is passionate about mentoring/guiding companies through expansion/growth. Mr. Chandra originally from India, is a naturalized citizen of the United States of America (USA) and presently spends times between Dubai, UAE, India and Singapore.
Praveena
Finance and Information
Her areas of expertise include Corporate Restructuring, Financial accounting, Business Valuation, Business Process Reengineering, MIS, Business Plans, Feasibility Studies and Internal Audit. She has worked on assignments in various countries (India, UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Netherlands, and UK).
Praveena is also a Finance and Information Security professional. She has undergone the ISO Lead Auditor course (Information Security Management System) and has a Six Sigma Green Belt. She has over ten years of experience in accounting, auditing, and consulting.
J.N. Gupta
Advisor
A Distinguished Career in Finance
J.N. Gupta is a seasoned finance professional with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. He has held pivotal roles in banking, investment, and financial management, particularly in the Middle East.
Key highlights of his career include:
- Digital Banking Pioneer: Actively involved in the exploration and establishment of a digital bank, with strategic plans for global expansion.
- Virtual Assets Expert: Co-founded NGOO (Next Generation Digital Business), focusing on technology governance within crypto exchanges and trading platforms based in the UAE, with strategic plans for expansion to other Gulf countries.
- Financial Controller to Sheikh Hamdan: Served as Financial Controller for the Private Office of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE in early 90s. Managed the Management Office, raising finances for various government projects on behalf of Arabian Construction Company (ACC). Pioneered innovative financing methods for projects, contributing to the establishment of Mubadala, a new sovereign
investment fund. Facilitated funding for Chevron agents, P&W engines, and military supply of engines through inventive financing solutions. Established a bank in Switzerland to stream funding for the group. Initiated in treasury operations dealing in government bonds, surpassing ADIA and Central Bank. Orchestrated substantial trade finance for prominent Indian corporates and PSUs, such as ONGC, SAIL, BHEL, and Indian Railway. - BCCI Closure Coordinator: Appointed as Coordinator for the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi led by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to handle the closure of BCCI. Successfully managed the complex closure process over 7 years, resulting in the emergence of Union National Bank.
- Trans Arabian Investment Bank (TAIB) Founder: Founded TAIB in early 80s in Bahrain. Led TAIB’s global expansion, establishing branches in key international financial centres. Extended financial support to multinational companies worldwide, including NEC, Sony, ARAMCO, and governmental projects.
- Citibank Career: Commenced his career at Citibank, New Delhi, in 1967. Occupied various roles, gaining hands-on experience in auditing, money market operations, treasury operations, and foreign exchange. Managed money market and treasury operations for prominent corporate clients such as Food Corporation of India, MMTC, STC, IBM, and international governments.
Mr. Gupta’s extensive experience, leadership skills, and innovative approach have made him a respected figure in the finance industry, consistently contributing to the success and growth of financial institutions worldwide.
