Tan Sri Hassan Marican was born in Sungai Petani, Kedah. He had his early education at the Ibrahim Secondary School, Sungai Petani, Kedah and later continued his studies at the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

Career

• Article clerk in Touche Ross
  
• Partner in the accounting firm of Hanafiah, Raslan and Mohamad (1981)
  
• Vice President (Finance) Petronas (1989)
  
• President and Chief Executive Officer, Petronas (1995-now)

As a result of his leadership and with the cooperation and commitment of all concerned, Petronas has emerged from a small ordinary oil company, compared to the oil giants of SHELL and ESSO, to become the top 500 companies in terms of income returns as published in the Fortune Global 500. With a net profit of US 4.3 billion, it was placed 254. His experience as a chartered accountant and in handling the multi-faceted aspects of the oil business had enabled him to manage the biggest engineering concern in Malaysia, employing more than 4000 engineers.

Through his leadership, Petronas has boldly ventured into the automotive industry by starting the project to produce the first commercial engine in Malaysia. This project has succeeded in producing a 2000cc engine that meet the high specifications in 7 major aspects of motor engineering and could be used in any car model. This is proof that Malaysians are able and capable and at par with others in the automotive industry. Tan Sri Hassan was able to let Petronas create a niche in the international arena when it succeeded in constructing the first 'Triple Well' in the world in Sarawak. This innovative technology uses three wells with six production lines which was dug through a shared line. Sensitivity towards environment concerns has led Petronas, under the leadership of Tan Sri Hassan, to introduce Enviro 2000, that is an environmental-friendly vehicle which uses natural gas (NGV).

In recognition of his dynamic, aggressive and effective leadership, he was conferred the A.M.K. in 1991, the Darjah Sultan Mahmud Terengganu Yang Amat Terpuji in 1982, the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Terengganu in 1996 and the Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) which carries the title Tan Sri in 1997. Apart from those, he was honoured by the French government, which bestowed him with the 'Commandeur de la Legion D'Honneur' in 2000. He was also awarded the 'Friendship Medal' from the Vietnamese Government in 2001. In the accountancy field, Tan Sri Mohd. Hassan Marican was given due recognition as 'Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants' in England and Wales, as well as member of 'Malaysian Institute of Accountants' and 'Malaysian Association of Certified Public Accountants'. He was also honoured by the University of Malaya with an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his role and contributions in the development and achievement in the field of engineering in the country.