since 1976
since 1976
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has appointed Azhan Shafriman Hanif as its new Chief Executive Officer following the completion of Dato’ Razlan Razali’s tenure as CEO on 7 April 2020. Azhan Shafriman Hanif, a mechanical engineer by training – 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 – a significant recognition of PETRONAS’ Fluid Technology Solutions for the demanding global motorsports arena.
Commenting on his appointment, Shafriman said, “It is a great honour to be entrusted with this job. Dato’ 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 – thus offering another starting point for me at SIC while I familiarise myself with a hands-on role as CEO.”
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 – 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 SIC’s 300 hectare grounds.
