Datuk Anna Teo

EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ Asia-Pacific Class of 2024
Founder and Group CEO, Hernan Corporation Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Datuk Anna Teo is the founder and Group CEO of Hernan Corporation, an industry-leading food manufacturing and exporting enterprise based in Malaysia. Established in 1996, Hernan now exports and distributes dessert and bakery products, mainly made from durian fruit, to countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US and China.

During her career as a flight stewardess with Malaysia Airlines, Anna recognized the absence of Malaysian products in large cities. After that stint, she began exporting popular Malaysian food products to such cities. This was the beginning of Hernan Corporation. Shortly, the company started distributing durian, along with fresh and frozen products made from it. Since then, the company has made significant growth.

Hernan is Malaysia's largest cold chain manufacturer, and a leading exporter of Malaysian durians and durian-inspired products. From 50 employees in 1996, the company's workforce has grown to around 200 employees, with a revenue of MYR100 million in 2022. 

Anna aims to expand Hernan's market locally and internationally in the upcoming years, with a target sales revenue of MYR300 million in 2025. She was awarded the EEA Women Exporter of The Year in 2023 and the Resilience 30 Women Awards 2022 by HAPA & Shanghai. She is also the recipient of EY Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2022.