Caroline Russell (businesswoman)
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Caroline Russell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 or 1966 (age 59–60) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Citizenship | Malaysia |
| Education | Alice Smith School |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh (BCom (Hons)) |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Eexcutive chairman of BOH Plantations |
| Spouse | Mehmet Alguel |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Tristan Beauchamp Russell |
| Relatives | John Archibald Russell (grandfather) |
| Awards | Forbes' 2020 Asia's Power Businesswomen list |
Caroline Christine Russell[1] (born 1965 or 1966) is a Malaysian businesswoman with British descent, who is currently the executive chairman of the largest tea producer in Malaysia, BOH Plantations, since 2003.[2] She was listed in the Forbes' 2020 Asia's Power Businesswomen List.[3]
Caroline Russell was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to her father Tristan Russell, the owner of BOH Plantations at the time.[4] She spent much of her childhood in BOH's tea estates in Cameron Highlands.[5] Her childhood hobby was horse ridding and at one point in time kept a pony at the highlands.[6]
Russell completed her primary education at the Kuala Lumpur Alice Smith School,[7][8][5] and her secondary education in Scotland.[5][9] She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1988 with a commerce degree.[3][5][9] During her degree studies, she undertook an executive development programme at the Darden Business School of the University of Virginia.[9] Shortly after her graduation, she joined the marketing department of his father's company.[3][5][9]
Career
In BOH Plantations
Russell first joined her father's company, BOH Plantations in 1988 at the age of 22, after the completion of her commerce degree.[2][10] She was appointed to the board of directors of BOH in 1994, and later ascended to the post of general manager in 1998.[9] In 2002, she was tasked with the management of the company tea estates, and in 2003, Russell assumed the position of CEO in the company.[2][10] In 2017, she became the deputy chairman of BOH.[11] Two years later in 2019, she succeeded her father as the executive chairman after his retirement.[10][4]
As of 2019, she held a 1.74% share in JA Russell & Co, one the parent companies of BOH Plantations.[1]
Outside BOH Plantations
Russell is a member of the Governing Council of Yayasan Sime Darby since 16 October 2008.[9][12] She is also a trustee of Yayasan Hasanah, a foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, as of 2024.[13][14] She is also the director of Tehdara Sdn. Bhd. and Nerada (Pty) Ltd, an Australian tea producing company.[9][11] Between 2006 and 2012, she was a general committee member of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).[9]
Recognition
In 1998, she was nominated for the Chivas Regal Achievement Unlimited Award. Russell was also a top nominee in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Malaysia) Award in 2004.[9] In 2020, she entered into the Forbes' 2020 Asia's Power Businesswomen List, which showed case 25 prominent businesswomen in Asia-Pacific region.[3]