Caroline Russell is the executive chairman of BOH Tea. A Malaysian citizen of British ancestry, Caroline was born in Kuala Lumpur. Her involvement with the family business began in 1988 when she joined BOH’s marketing department. Later, she was appointed general manager, responsible for downstream operations. In 2002, management of the tea estates was placed under her supervision, and in 2003, Caroline assumed the position of CEO. In 2017, she was appointed deputy chairman and later became the executive chairman in July of 2019 upon the retirement of her father, Tristan Russell.
Sharing in the passion to create well-loved teas like her late grandfather, J.A. Russell, and her father, Tristan Russell, Caroline’s goal is to enhance BOH’s brand leadership while leveraging the rich legacy of her predecessors. With BOH’s commitment to nurture a sustainable future, Caroline steered strategic collaborations on conservation and educational initiatives with local and regional environmental non-governmental organizations. To date, BOH has partnered with WWF-Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society, Global Environment Centre, and Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre to drive public awareness on the environment.
Caroline is a director of several associate companies, including Teh Dara Sdn Bhd and Nerada Tea (Pty) Ltd, a tea business in Australia. She is a trustee of two foundations: Yayasan Sime Darby and Yayasan Hasanah. Both foundations work in various spheres including education, community development, the environment, arts, and sports.
