Talentcorp Assumes National Leadership Development Initiative

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 JANUARY 2012 - Leadership development within the public and private sectors will be further advanced following today's handing over of the secretariat role of the Cross Assignment/ Cross Fertilisation programme from Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) to Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp).

The Cross Assignment programme was initially implemented in 2008 as a one to two-year talent exchange programme between Government-Linked Companies (GLCs). The programme aimed at building a new cadre of high performing business leaders, by providing selected high performers greater exposure and through assigning the talents to leadership developmental roles in other organisations.

The programme represented a key component of the Orange Book initiative which was conceptualised by the Putrajaya Committee on GLC High Performance (PCG) secretariat, led by Khazanah, to articulate specific national leadership development efforts.

In 2009, through the thought leadership of the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, the programme was expanded to its current form as a Cross Assignment/ Cross Fertilisation programme, which facilitated the exchange of talent between the civil service and GLCs.

"The Cross Assignment/ Cross Fertilisation programme is a key national talent initiative to develop future leaders and foster greater understanding between the public and private sector. Today's handing over of the secretariat role from Khazanah to TalentCorp is in line with transforming the programme to the next level," said Tan Sri Mohd Sidek bin Haji Hassan, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia.

Tan Sri Mohd Sidek was there to witness the handover ceremony of the Cross Assignment/ Cross Fertilisation programme from Khazanah to TalentCorp, in addition to presenting certificates to the participating civil servants and GLC talents who have completed the programme.

Going forward, TalentCorp will manage the Cross Assignment / Cross Fertilisation programme in partnership with the Public Service Department (JPA). Tan Sri Mohd Sidek also announced that the next cycle of the programme, which will commence in June 2012, will be enhanced and extended to include private sector participation such as multinational companies and leading Malaysian corporations. This is in line with advancing leadership development as a national agenda and sharing best practice between the Government and private sector towards achieving the national transformation goals.

"Malaysia's ambitious development agenda places the impetus on GLCs to be one of the growth engines of the national economy, and this requires leaders," said Tan Sri Dato' Azman bin Hj. Mokhtar, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional. "On behalf of PCG and Khazanah, I would like to thank those involved for their support and input into the development of this initiative, and I wish TalentCorp all the very best in its role as the new programme secretariat."

"The reassignment of the Cross Assignment / Cross Fertilisation programme to TalentCorp highlights the on-going commitment of all involved not just to national talent development but also in promoting greater public-private sector collaboration," said Johan Mahmood Merican, Chief Executive Officer of TalentCorp. "We are humbled to be accorded such a pivotal role in bringing this initiative to the next level and we look forward to collaborating very closely with the private sector in the next cycle."