Vinod Sekhar (born 6 August 1968) is a Malaysian businessman who is the chairman and chief executive of the PETRA Group,[1] whose businesses include restaurants, recycling rubber, media and entertainment, agriculture and modular building materials.[2]
Sekhar is a proponent of social capitalism, a philosophy that combines business with the improvement of social capital.[3][4] He has faced various legal controversies, including lawsuits from various entities.[5]
He was named by Forbes magazine as Malaysia's 28th richest man in 2009.[6]
In 1990, Sekhar formed Sekhar Tunku Imran (STI) Group together with his friend, Tunku Tan Sri Imran and entered various business ventures. One of the most notable business deals that STI had was a joint venture with Disney-MGM Studios in Florida, USA to produce the movie entitled 'Tarzan, The Epic Adventure'.[9] Tunku Tan Sri Imran was declared bankrupt in 2005.[10]
The Petra Group is a privately held company known for Green Rubber Global, the company's key business which it claims has a cost-effective process that can efficiently recycle used rubber.[11]
In 2021, Petra Group announced that it had procured 200 thousand Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines from China for free distribution.[14]
In 2024 Sekhar was sued by 12 investors and former employees, for alleged fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and acknowledgement of debt.[15] Further, in 2021, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission opened a money laundering and tax evasion investigation into Sekhar's affairs.[16]
Philanthropy
Sekhar is the founder of the Vinod Sekhar Foundation, which was founded to undertake various initiatives to alleviate poverty, provide healthcare and education, and support the most vulnerable communities including the indigenous, disabled, old folks, children, refugees, and poor.[17]
Sekhar is a proponent of social capitalism, a system that interconnects profitability with the social good. He supports upcoming entrepreneurs whose business ideas embrace the system.[18][19]
Personal life
Sekhar is the youngest son of Sukumari Nair and B.C. Sekhar, also known as Mr. Natural Rubber, who, for a time, provided significant inputs in the global natural rubber industry. He has three siblings. He is married to Winy Sekhar with whom he has two daughters, Petra and Tara.[20][21]
Sekhar said in a 2021 interview that he was a "close friend" of the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.[22]
Awards
In 2008, Grant Thornton awarded Sekhar the Malaysian Corporate Leader of the year.[23] In 2024, Sekhar was awarded the Bhartiya Mahantam Vikas Puraskar 2023-24.[24]
↑ "Malaysia in the Asian Century: The Challenges we all face", in: Frank-Jürgen Richter and Thang D. Nguyen: The Malaysian Journey, Marshall Cavendish 2004.
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