MDEC names new director of strategic communications

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has appointed Frank Chan as its new director of strategic communications. Reporting directly to the CEO, Anuar Fariz Fadzil, Chan will work closely with the leadership team to strengthen the organisation’s positioning as the heart of Malaysia’s digital economy.

In his new role, Chan will lead MDEC’s overall strategic narrative, overseeing both internal and external communications. “My responsibility is to ensure our communications directly support Malaysia’s digital ambitions,” he told A+M exclusively. His immediate priorities include listening and learning from the current landscape, refining MDEC’s storytelling, and engaging audiences through genuine two-way dialogue.

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Transitioning from the private sector, Chan noted that while the principles of strategic communications — clarity, consistency, and credibility — remain constant, the focus shifts significantly at MDEC. “In the private sector, the goal is often commercial and shareholder value. At MDEC, the ‘bottom line’ is the national impact and public value creation. It’s a shift from market share to heart and mind share for a national cause,” he said.

Chan is particularly keen to amplify flagship initiatives such as MyDigital and ESG for the digital sector, which he described as pivotal to positioning Malaysia as a global and regional digital hub. “A key part of my role will be to articulate the success and opportunities within these initiatives, attracting both domestic participation and international investment,” he added.

Bringing with him over two decades of experience in telco and communications, Chan said his background has instilled agility, measurement-driven discipline, and a deep understanding of both consumer and B2B landscapes. “I see a tremendous opportunity to act as a bridge, translating public policy into compelling business cases and vice-versa,” he said.

Looking ahead, Chan sees both opportunity and challenge in scale. “The single biggest opportunity is the story of Malaysia’s ambitious digital transformation itself. The challenge lies in ensuring the message of digital empowerment cuts through the noise and reaches every segment of society, from tech pioneers in Cyberjaya to aspiring entrepreneurs in rural communities. This requires a nuanced and multi-channel strategy,” he said.

Still, the new role is one Chan is deeply motivated to take on. “The chance to use my skills to serve the nation and play a part in shaping Malaysia’s digital destiny is incredibly motivating,” he said.

In July, A+M had reported that Frank Chan left his role at TM after nearly three years with the telco. Chan joined TM mid-2022, focusing on crisis communications, business continuity management, as well as media and content management. Prior to that, he was the AVP of strategic communications and marketing at Axiata for six years. He also had some stints at webe digital, and the ICLIF Leadership and Governance Centre. 

Another highlight of his career was his six years at DiGi as a communications senior, and subsquently the associate principal for corporate responsibility and communications. Prior to a year-long stint at BASF Asia Pacific, Chan was also at Ericsson Malaysia for over seven years. 

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