COMPANIES ACT 2016
“manager”, in relation to a company, means the principal executive officer of the company for the time being by whatever name called and whether or not he is a director;
Under the Companies Act 2016, a manager is the principal executive officer responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of a company.
The definition focuses on the functions and responsibilities performed by the individual rather than the person's official job title. Therefore, regardless of whether the individual is called a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Managing Director (MD), General Manager, Executive Director, President, Country Manager, or any other designation, he or she may be regarded as the company's manager if he or she is the principal executive officer.
Importantly, the definition also clarifies that the manager may or may not be a director of the company.
Meaning of Principal Executive Officer
The principal executive officer is generally the individual who:
- Has overall responsibility for the company's daily operations;
- Implements the policies and decisions of the Board of Directors;
- Directs and supervises the company's management team;
- Oversees business operations and corporate performance; and
- Reports to the Board of Directors on the company's affairs.
The principal executive officer is responsible for managing the business but remains accountable to the Board of Directors.
Key Characteristics of a Manager
A manager generally:
- Is the principal executive officer of the company;
- Oversees the day-to-day operations of the business;
- Exercises executive management authority;
- Implements the strategic decisions made by the Board;
- May hold any executive title, regardless of its name; and
- May or may not serve as a director of the company.
Common Titles That May Constitute a Manager
Depending on the company's organisational structure, the following positions may fall within the statutory definition of manager:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO);
- Managing Director (MD);
- General Manager (GM);
- Executive Director;
- President;
- Country Manager;
- Chief Operating Officer (COO), where acting as the principal executive officer; or
- Any other person performing the functions of the principal executive officer.
Whether a person is a manager depends on the substance of the role rather than the title used.
A person may simultaneously be both a manager and a director, such as a Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer who also sits on the Board.
Practical Examples
Example 1 – Chief Executive Officer
ABC Sdn. Bhd. appoints a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to manage all business operations.
Although the CEO is not a director, he is the company's principal executive officer.
The CEO is regarded as the manager under the Companies Act 2016.
Example 2 – Managing Director
XYZ Berhad appoints its Managing Director to oversee the company's operations and strategy.
Since the Managing Director is both the principal executive officer and a member of the Board, he is both a manager and a director.
Example 3 – General Manager
A company appoints a General Manager with full authority over the company's operations while the Board retains overall governance.
If the General Manager is the principal executive officer, he falls within the statutory definition of a manager, even though he is not a director.
Compliance Requirements
Where applicable, a manager should ensure that he or she:
- Performs executive duties in accordance with the Companies Act 2016;
- Implements the lawful decisions of the Board of Directors;
- Exercises reasonable care, skill, and diligence in managing the company's affairs;
- Maintains proper corporate records and internal controls; and
- Complies with all statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary obligations applicable to his or her role.
Importance
The definition of "manager" under the Companies Act 2016 emphasises the substance of executive authority rather than formal job titles. By defining a manager as the principal executive officer, whether or not the individual is a director, the Act ensures that the person who effectively manages the company's business is recognised for legal and regulatory purposes. This promotes corporate accountability, clarifies management responsibilities, and supports effective governance by distinguishing executive management from the Board's oversight function.
《2016 年公司法》
“经理”（Manager） 就公司而言，是指当时负责公司整体经营管理的主要执行人员（Principal Executive Officer），不论其职称为何，亦不论其是否为公司董事。
根据《2016 年公司法》，经理（Manager） 是指负责公司日常经营、业务管理及行政运作的主要执行人员（Principal Executive Officer）。
该定义强调的是个人实际履行的职能及职责（Substance over Title），而并非其正式职位名称。
因此，无论有关人士的职衔为何，只要其实际担任公司的主要执行人员，即可被视为《2016 年公司法》所指的经理（Manager）。
例如，其职称可以是：
- 首席执行官（Chief Executive Officer，CEO）；
- 董事总经理（Managing Director，MD）；
- 总经理（General Manager，GM）；
- 执行董事（Executive Director）；
- 总裁（President）；
- 国家经理（Country Manager）；或
- 其他任何名称。
此外，《2016 年公司法》亦明确规定，经理可以是董事，也可以不是董事。
主要执行人员（Principal Executive Officer）的含义（Meaning of Principal Executive Officer）
主要执行人员（Principal Executive Officer） 一般是指负责公司整体经营管理的人士，其主要职责包括：
- 全面负责公司的日常经营及行政管理；
- 执行董事会（Board of Directors）制定的政策及决议；
- 领导及监督公司的管理团队；
- 监督公司业务运作及经营表现；以及
- 向董事会汇报公司的经营状况及管理事务。
主要执行人员负责公司的日常经营管理，但仍须向董事会负责，并接受董事会的监督。
经理的主要特点（Key Characteristics of a Manager）
经理一般具有以下特点：
- 属于公司的主要执行人员；
- 负责公司的日常业务及营运管理；
- 行使公司的执行管理权（Executive Management Authority）；
- 负责落实董事会所作出的策略及商业决策；
- 不论采用任何行政职称，只要履行主要执行人员职责，均可能属于经理；以及
- 可以同时担任董事，也可以并非董事。
哪些职称可能属于经理？（Common Titles That May Constitute a Manager）
根据公司的组织架构，下列职位均可能属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的经理：
- 首席执行官（Chief Executive Officer，CEO）；
- 董事总经理（Managing Director，MD）；
- 总经理（General Manager，GM）；
- 执行董事（Executive Director）；
- 总裁（President）；
- 国家经理（Country Manager）；
- 首席营运官（Chief Operating Officer，COO）（如其担任主要执行人员）；以及
- 任何实际履行主要执行人员职责的人士。
因此，一名人士是否属于经理（Manager），应根据其实际承担的职责及权力判断，而非仅依据其职位名称。
此外，一名人士亦可同时兼具经理及董事两种身份，例如：
- 董事总经理（Managing Director）；或
- 同时担任董事的首席执行官（CEO）。
实务示例（Practical Examples）
例子一：首席执行官（Chief Executive Officer）
ABC Sdn. Bhd. 委任一名**首席执行官（CEO）**负责管理公司的整体业务。
虽然该 CEO 并非公司董事，但其属于公司的主要执行人员。
因此，根据《2016 年公司法》，该 CEO 属于公司的经理（Manager）。
例子二：董事总经理（Managing Director）
XYZ Berhad 委任董事总经理负责公司的整体经营及策略执行。
由于董事总经理既属于主要执行人员，同时亦为董事会成员，因此其同时属于：
- 经理（Manager）；及
- 董事（Director）。
例子三：总经理（General Manager）
某公司委任一名总经理全面负责公司的日常营运，而董事会则负责整体治理及重大决策。
由于该总经理属于公司的主要执行人员，因此即使并非董事，仍符合《2016 年公司法》所定义的经理。
合规要求（Compliance Requirements）
在适用情况下，经理应确保：
- 按照《2016 年公司法》履行其执行管理职责；
- 忠实执行董事会依法作出的各项决议；
- 以合理谨慎、专业技能及勤勉态度管理公司事务；
- 建立及维持完善的公司记录、内部控制及管理制度；以及
- 遵守所有适用于其职务的法定义务、监管要求及诚信责任（Fiduciary Obligations）。
重要性（Importance）
《2016 年公司法》对**“经理（Manager）”** 的定义，强调的是执行管理权的实质（Substance of Executive Authority），而并非职位名称或形式上的职衔。
透过将经理定义为公司的主要执行人员（Principal Executive Officer），且明确规定其无论是否担任董事均可属于经理，《2016 年公司法》确保真正负责公司经营管理的人士，在法律及监管层面均须承担相应责任。
这一制度的重要意义包括：
- 明确区分董事会（Board of Directors）与执行管理层（Executive Management）的职责；
- 确保实际管理公司业务的人士承担相应的法律责任及监管责任；
- 提升企业管理层的问责性（Corporate Accountability）；
- 强化公司治理（Corporate Governance）及内部管理效率；以及
- 促进董事会监督与管理层执行之间的职责分工，建立更完善、透明及高效的企业管理制度。
Malaysia
