Skymind appoints Yasmin Mahmood as chairperson to open new growth chapter

• Extensive experience will guide Skymind with its growth and scale plans
• Malaysia serves as group’s regional AI hub, aims to catalyse innovation ecosystem

Skymind Holdings Bhd, a subsidiary of London-based Skymind Global Ltd, a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), announced the appointment of Yasmin Mahmood (pic) as its Chairperson earlier this month.

[Ed: para updated for accuracy.]

With a presence in 17 countries, including Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, the Skymind Global has embarked on its next growth chapter. Skymind’s innovative technologies serve as a fundamental layer in AI and are deployed in 350 Fortune 500 companies, including Nvidia, IBM, Huawei and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA (NASA).  

In Jan 2020, Skymind Global, through its subsidiary, Skymind Global Ventures launched a US$800 million (RM3.28 billion) fund to support promising new AI companies and academic research globally. 

Skymind Holdings, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was established in October 2019 to expand its footprint throughout Southeast Asia, with Malaysia serving as the group’s regional AI hub.

“We are pleased to welcome Datuk Yasmin, a well-respected and internationally recognised leader in the IT industry, to Skymind,” said Shawn Tan (pic), Global CEO of Skymind. “Her extensive experience, knowledge and insights will help guide the vision and strategic opportunities of Skymind as we march ahead with our scale and growth plans.”

Prior to her current role, Yasmin served as advisor for a year, during which her leadership and passion empowered Skymind to strengthen partnerships, develop strategic alliances, and expand its presence in Malaysia, regionally and globally, said Shawn.

“I am honoured to be joining Skymind, one of the world’s most influential and impactful AI companies,” said Yasmin. “I am passionate about AI and how it can revolutionise and reimagine anything and everything.  With the company’s track record of AI innovations and a focused growth strategy, this is an exciting time to work with Shawn and his team.  Skymind is in a unique position to catalyse an innovation ecosystem, thereby creating high-income and high-value jobs in Malaysia to serve global markets.”

In a career that spanned over three decades, Yasmin had led and managed global technology companies including Dell, HP and was the managing director of Microsoft Malaysia.

She had also served in Malaysia’s public sector as the CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for four years. She was also recently appointed as chairman of Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia and sits on the Board of Directors of Malaysia Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) and Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd.

Most recently, she was re-appointed by Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera, an agency under the Prime Minister’s Office as one of its industry Advisory Board members.