Vale, a global leader in mining, has appointed Edwin Gerard as the Chief Executive Officer of its Malaysian subsidiary, Vale Malaysia Minerals Sdn. Bhd. (“Vale in Malaysia”). Edwin brings more than 25 years of international experience in large-scale port operations, logistics and infrastructure management, having held senior leadership roles across Oman, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Malaysia. His most recent posting was as the Chief Operating Officer of Johor Port Berhad.
As the first Malaysian appointed to this role, Edwin’s appointment reflects Vale’s continued commitment to developing and empowering the local talent ecosystem in countries where it operates. Vale’s Malaysia operations are supported by a workforce of over 95% Malaysian, spanning the Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal in Perak, which represents the largest single foreign direct investment in the state, and its Asia Pacific corporate office in Kuala Lumpur.
Edwin will oversee one of Vale’s most strategic hubs in Asia, which distributes around 20 million tonnes of iron ore annually, while advancing the company’s focus on safe, reliable and sustainable operations.
“Malaysia continues to play an important role in Vale’s Asia Pacific operations and we remain firmly committed to strengthening our long-term presence and contribution in the country. In this role, I aim to continue building on the strong foundation established over the years by deepening partnerships with local stakeholders, enhancing collaboration across the ecosystem and ensuring the consistent delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable operations that create lasting value.”
He succeeds Leonardo Paiva, who played a key role in strengthening Vale’s commitment to a sustainable presence in Malaysia. During his leadership, Vale embarked on a range of community-centred social investment partnerships with Perak’s institutions, such as urban rejuvenation projects in Manjung, which supported the revitalisation of Beruas and Manjung Lama, as well as the establishment of the Teluk Rubiah Scholarship Programme to develop high-potential local talent.
Since the commencement of its operations in Teluk Rubiah in 2014, Vale has invested around MYR80 million on social investments in areas such as education, women empowerment and environmental conservation. “We will continue to build upon the solid relationships that we have built thus far with local stakeholders to deliver sustainable value for our business, people and the society, especially in Perak, where we have a highly strategic operational presence,” Edwin concluded.
