11/1/07 KUALA LUMPUR, (Reuters) - Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby's chief Ahmad Zubir Murshid was named on Thursday as chief executive officer of Synergy Drive, a new entity that is set to become the world's largest listed oil palm planter.
Under a plan announced in November, Synergy Drive will absorb the assets of Sime Darby and two other plantation firms -- Kumpulan Guthrie and Golden Hope -- to create the world's largest listed palm oil group worth $8.6 billion.

The three state-controlled plantation firms last month accepted the merger proposal. Synergy Drive said in a statement it had moved quickly to name a chief executive to provide leadership for the integration planning process.Malaysian palm oil producer Synergy Drive has named Sime Darby group chief Ahmad Zubir Murshid as its chief executive officer, Synergy Drive's public relations firm said on Thursday.