Captain Izham Ismail named CEO of Malaysia Airlines

Board Executive Committee to be in place for six months to ensure smooth transition

IZHAM, who has been with the airline for 38 years, takes the helm on Dec 1.

THE boards of directors of Malaysia Aviation Group and Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) yesterday announced Captain Izham Ismail as executive director and group chief executive officer (GCEO) designate with immediate effect.

Captain Izham is the current MAS chief operating officer (COO).

To ensure a smooth transition, a Board Executive Committee will be in place for up to six months. It will be led by chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof and will include board members Tan Sri Krishnan Tan Boon Seng, Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Isa and Sheranjiv Sammanthan.

Izham will assume the role of GCEO on Dec 1 upon the departure of Peter Bellew, who is currently on administrative leave, MAS said in a statement yesterday.

“Izham has been integral to the airline’s ongoing turnaround effort. As COO, he was responsible for the operations division, which includes flight and airport operations as well as engineering. He led the restructuring of the engineering division for more efficient and leaner operations, and was also responsible for the airline’s fuel savings initiative.

“Izham has 38 years of experience in the aviation industry, having started his career with Malaysia Airlines as a pilot in 1979. He broke world aviation records when he flew Malaysia Airlines’ first B777-200 eastward from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur and back.

“The flight set new world records for longest flight and fastest round-the-world flight by a commercial airliner, with a total flight time of 41 hours 59 minutes over a distance of 23,310 miles,” the statement said.

“On behalf of the Malaysia Airlines group, I am extremely pleased to welcome Izham to this new role,” Md Nor said in the statement.

“I am proud that he is our own internal home-grown talent and I am confident that he will be able to take the airline forward and ensure the turnaround plan is met.”

Izham said: “I am extremely honoured to be entrusted with this position. My entire career has been spent with Malaysia Airlines and it is very much my family. Helming the national airline is a big responsibility.

“I am humbled and at the same time, ready for the challenge. We are on track towards a full and complete transformation as outlined in the MAS Recovery Plan, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to make this airline the pride of the nation again,” he added.

As GCEO, Izham will be supported by a strong senior management team comprising chief financial officer Omar Siddiq, chief commercial officer Arved von zur Muehlen, chief information officer Tan Kok Meng and executive counsel Nik Azli Abu Zahar.

They will be joined by a new chief human capital officer, Datuk Mohd Khalis Abdul Rahim, who is currently the chief human capital officer at Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

He has extensive experience in human capital management, having also served several multinational companies over 25 years in the field.

Iam extremely honoured to be entrusted with this position. My entire career has been spent with Malaysia Airlines and it is very much my family. Helming the national airline is a big responsibility

CAPTAIN IZHAM ISMAIL