Kuala Lumpur: Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) chief executive officer (CEO), Datuk Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir will be stepping down from his post on March 31, 2025, after a 15-year tenure with the firm.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government-linked private equity company announced that Aliff Omar Mohamad Omar, who is currently its senior investment director, will assume the role of acting CEO, effective April 1. Ekuinas chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan remarked that Syed Yasir Arafat, as one of the pioneer members of Ekuinas, will leave a legacy of vision and leadership.

The chairman further stated that Syed Yasir Arafat’s commitment to building future leaders has been instrumental in preparing Aliff Omar for this transition. The board expressed confidence in Aliff’s ability to guide Ekuinas into its next phase of growth while upholding the core values of the firm.

Syed Yasir Arafat took the helm in 2016 and has played a significant role in transforming Ekuinas into a leading private equity firm. Under his leadership, the firm managed RM4.0 billion in funds under management and deployed RM5.6 billion in economic capital across 28 companies. He also spearheaded the creation of Dana Asas, a Bumiputera-focused private equity fund, and introduced private credit as a new investment asset class.

Meanwhile, Aliff Omar, who joined Ekuinas in 2017, has quickly advanced through the ranks and has been an integral part of the leadership team, working closely with Syed Yasir Arafat on strategy and value creation. With over 16 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets, he has led numerous transactions across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.