KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 6): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has announced the appointment of Alex Ooi Thiam Poh as director of the Audit Oversight Board (AOB), effective Jan 18.

As AOB director, Ooi will work closely with AOB executive chairman Datuk Gumuri Hussain in "promoting and developing an effective and robust audit oversight framework in the Malaysian capital market", SC said in a statement today.

"Ooi brings with him over 25 years of financial advisory and assurance experience in various industries, specialising in statutory audit of public listed companies and multinational companies, initial public offering, internal audit, risk management and corporate advisory and reorganisation," the statement said.

The AOB was established in 2010, under the auspices of the SC, to develop an effective audit oversight framework and promote confidence in the quality and reliability of audited financial statements in Malaysia.

The SC said Ooi has served in senior management roles at global professional service firms, including Deloitte and BDO Malaysia.

The former president of the Malaysian division of CPA Australia is also a member of the Government Accounting Standards Advisory Committee (GASAC) of the Accountant General's office.

Ooi has also been actively involved in the Financial Reporting Standards Implementation Committee, Education Committee and Capital Market Advisory Committee of Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

The chartered accountant holds a Bachelor of Economics degree in accounting from Monash University of Australia.