Key Management Personnel

See the faces behind our excellent team!

Zen Chan

Chief Executive Officer - Gac Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd

Zen Chan is the visionary Chief Executive Officer of Gac Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd, leading with strategic insight and over eight years of executive experience in the fields of agricultural engineering and biotechnology. Recognized for his innovative mindset and commitment to sustainable growth, Zen has played a pivotal role in transforming Gac fruit from a little-known exotic plant into a dynamic, health-driven industry.

As CEO, Zen oversees global strategy, corporate development, and stakeholder relations. Under his leadership, the company has built an integrated ecosystem for medicinal-grade Gac fruit, becoming the largest and most consistent supplier in Southeast Asia. His leadership has firmly established Gac Biotech as a market leader in premium Gac fruit raw material supply.

Zen’s approach blends data-driven decision-making, agile execution, and a strong focus on customer-centric innovation. With a track record of turning around businesses, scaling start-ups, and managing cross-border teams, he has fostered a corporate culture defined by resilience, innovation, and integrity.

Before founding Gac Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd, Zen held key leadership roles at Gac Fruit Asia Pte. Ltd., Gac Fruit Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Gac Fruits Plantation Sdn Bhd, where he led groundbreaking initiatives—such as cultivating new Gac fruit varieties, raising public awareness on its nutritional benefits, and forging strategic partnerships across Asia.

Zen’s journey began in 2018, when he discovered Gac fruit while researching exotic fruits in a Southeast Asian encyclopedia. Captivated by its extraordinary nutritional profile, he soon realized the fruit’s scarcity and society’s lack of awareness around its potential. Undeterred, Zen began sourcing seeds and conducting rigorous R&D, even sharing the fruit with elderly individuals. The anecdotal results were remarkable—improvements in prostate health, eczema, digestion, and vision—which fueled his determination to delve deeper into the science of Gac.

Zen has since dedicated over 16 hours a day to developing Gac fruit into a multi-application ingredient. Today, it is used in therapeutic remedies, health supplements, food ingredients, personal care, cosmetics, and skincare—offering a natural path to wellness through daily lifestyle integration.

Under his guidance, Gac plantations are meticulously cared for using organic practices, with pesticide-free standards and a trained workforce skilled in early disease detection. Fruits are carefully selected, stored in hygienic and cool environments, and processed under strict SOPs.

Since 2019, Zen has actively collaborated with agricultural universities to deepen research and innovation. One of the company’s proudest milestones is the development of “Noah”—a Malaysia-bred Gac fruit variety with a thin exocarp, thick aril, and a unique sweet nectar flavor, reminiscent of celery, tomato, and cherry—the first of its kind in the world.

Zen continues to lead with purpose and passion, building a legacy of health innovation, agricultural sustainability, and meaningful impact for communities, consumers, and future generations alike.

At our processing facility, we strictly adhere to HACCP, GMP, and HALAL standards to ensure the highest level of food safety and product integrity at every stage of production. The process begins with thorough cleaning and sanitization of the Gac fruits, followed by careful drying and systematic separation of the fruit’s components—exocarp, flesh, aril, and nibs.

Each ingredient is subjected to rigorous quality inspections, including checks for contaminants and moisture levels to maintain optimal freshness and safety. At a more advanced level, specific parts of the fruit undergo precision freeze-drying, supercritical fluid extraction, and other specialized techniques, all conducted under strict temperature control to preserve nutritional potency.

Guided by Zen ’s meticulous oversight, this end-to-end process ensures that every Gac product reflects the highest standards of quality, purity, and safety—from farm to final consumption.

PAUL CHONG

Director of Corporate & Business Development

Mr. Paul Chong has been involved in business dealings with the Group since May 2024 and officially joined as the Director of Corporate & Business Development in December 2024. He works closely with the Group’s Chief Executive Officer to accelerate growth and maximize the value of each company within the Group.

His key responsibilities include:

Driving Sales and Market Expansion– Developing and executing strategies to increase revenue, penetrate new markets, and expand the Group’s customer base.
Developing Intangible Assets– Strengthening intellectual property (such as patents, branding, goodwill, and R&D) to enhance long-term business value.
Strategic Partnerships and Alliances– Identifying and fostering collaborations, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships to drive business synergies.
Corporate Strategy and Investment Planning– Assessing new business opportunities, mergers, and acquisitions to support the Group’s expansion goals.
Operational Efficiency and Business Process Optimization– Enhancing internal systems, workflow automation, and cost-effectiveness to improve overall efficiency.
Restructuring and Organizational Development– Overseeing business transformation, restructuring plans, and corporate governance improvements.
Brand Positioning and Reputation Management– Strengthening the Group’s brand presence through effective marketing, public relations, and stakeholder engagement.
Risk Management and Compliance – Ensuring business decisions align with legal, regulatory, and financial best practices.

Mr. Paul Chong brings over 30 years of experience in corporate & financial management and business strategy. Prior to joining the Group, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of a publicly listed company in Singapore from 2018 until mid-2025, overseeing corporate matters, business growth, financial and accounting functions. His responsibilities included financial reporting, risk management, investor relations, budget planning, cash flow management, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and leading mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Chong began his career at KPMG, an international accounting firm, and has since worked with various corporations and public listed companies across Singapore and Malaysia. He has a proven track record of collaborating with Chief Executive Officers, Boards of Directors, and senior management on strategic planning, driving company growth, and fostering organizational efficiency. Mr. Chong holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy.

Prof. Koh Chong Lek

Technical Adviser and Ambassador

1.Academian of Academy of Sciences Malaysia

2.PhD in Biochemistry, University of London (Imperial College of Science and Technology), UK

3.Former Professor of Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Malaya.

4.Director, DNA Center, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

5.Former Professor, University of Massachusetts, USA

6.Former Professor, Florida International University, USA

7.Former Professor, NERC Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Oxford, UK.

8.Former Professor, Xiamen University, Malaysia, China

9.Former Professor, Osaka University, Japan

10.Former Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Japan

11.Founding member of the Asia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (since March 1998)

12.Genetics Professor of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at universities in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Europe and the United States for more than 48 years (1970-2018).

13.First scientist in Malaysia to provide DNA typing services for human identification and paternity testing.

14.Used DNA typing to confirm the Highland Towers collapse in 1993 and the Tawau MAS Fokker 50 in 1995.