Sepang International Circuit sees change of Chief Executive Officer after more than 11 years Azhan Shafriman Hanif takes over on 8 April 2020 as Datoā€™ Razlan Razali moves to a full-time role at PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team SEPANG,

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) welcomed Azhan Shafriman Hanif as its new Chief Executive Officer today following the completion of Datoā€™ Razlan Razaliā€™s tenure as CEO on 7 April 2020.

No stranger to the motorsports sector, Shafriman is moving to SIC from his previous role as Head of Strategic Alliance in PETRONAS Brand Department.

A mechanical engineer by training ā€“ majoring in manufacturing and material science, he has been part of the PETRONAS team for more than 13 years.

Learning about the motorsports sector from PETRONAS leaders and industry captains, Shafriman spearheaded the sponsorship unit at PETRONAS over the past decade, focusing on motorsports platforms.

This enabled him to amass a wealth of experience in activating motorsports sponsorships and strategic partnerships with OEMs from a corporate perspective, monitoring and evaluating talent development performance in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel motorsports and creating branding exposure through motorsports sponsorship platforms in the F1, MotoGP and Cub Prix.

In recent years, PETRONAS has gained global prominence as the title sponsor and technical partner for the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, and is also now the official fuel supplier for Moto2 and Moto3 in the MotoGP World Championship ā€“ a significant recognition of PETRONASā€™ Fluid Technology Solutions for the demanding global motorsports arena.

Commenting on his appointment, Shafriman said, ā€œIt is a great honour to be entrusted with this job. Datoā€™ Razlan has left big shoes to fill, but I believe I can offer a unique perspective in this role, following my years at PETRONAS.

“With the world facing an unprecedented challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having a strong footing in the commercial side of motorsports will be a good launching point for my tenure at SIC, while I gain a firmer grasp of the operations side of things.

“Nevertheless, in my previous role in PETRONAS, I have had the privilege to provide feedback to SIC on its facilities and amenities ā€“ thus offering another starting point for me at SIC while I familiarise myself with a hands-on role as CEO.ā€

Shafriman said he aims to work with the team to tackle the business shortfall in the short term, strategising the way forward amidst the current economic uncertainties. In the mid-term, he targets to focus on operational excellence, governance and process control, with sustainability efforts and new partnerships being long-term focus areas.

ā€œDuring this period, it is crucial to look at harvesting the low hanging fruits by prioritising the right focus areas and executing the best strategy we have. We need to set clear joint objectives, and seek the best outcome to achieve it.ā€

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Azman Yahya, Chairman of Sepang International Circuit expressed confidence that Shafriman would lead the team to success in taking the circuit to greater heights, building upon the achievements of the past years.

ā€œShafriman is someone capable and passionate, and well-versed in the ins and outs of the motorsports world. We will use the foundation laid by Datoā€™ Razlan Razali during his tenure as CEO to further develop the circuit from strength to strength.

“Across more than 11 years, Datoā€™ Razlan made a tremendous impact on the circuit with his deep and unrelenting enthusiasm for motorsports and his unflagging passion and dedication to always doing more. We are grateful for his contributions.ā€

As CEO, Shafriman will oversee the completion of the SIC Master Plan activated in 2014, which seeks to turn the circuit into Asia’s cutting edge sports and edutainment hub ā€“ a multifaceted facility that draws repeat visits throughout the year.

About 60% of the initiatives for circuit development detailed in the Master Plan have been executed, including the SIC Motorsport Business Park, enhancement and expansion of facilities such as the construction of a new South Paddock and Paddock Chalets, installation of circuit lights allowing for night racing for the first time.

Upcoming developments in the near future include a Driving Experience Centre and off-road circuit, while longer term plans include a drag circuit, hotel and theme park within SICā€™s 300 hectare grounds

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