AMIR HAMZAH TO HELM TNB FOR 3 YEARS
He will replace Azman as president and CEO from April 2
TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) has announced the resignation of Datuk Seri Azman Mohd as president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective March 31.
Azman would be replaced by Amir Hamzah Azizan, effective April 2, said the national utility company in a statement yesterday.
The announcement confirmed the New Straits Times’ report on March 14 about impending Azman’s resignation and Amir Hamzah coming in as his replacement.
It was learnt that Azman was asked to leave and tendered his resignation to the TNB board about two weeks ago. The resignation was accepted by the Finance Ministry.
Amir Hamzah, who is UEM Edgenta Bhd chairman and son of former Petroliam Nasional Bhd chairman, the late Tun Azizan Zainul Abidin, will be helming TNB for three years.
“The board with the concurrence of the special shareholder, the Finance Ministry approved the appointment of Amir Hamzah as president and CEO of TNB for three years, from April 2 until April 1 2022,” it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.
Azman’s tenure is not due until June 30 next year, raising eyebrows over the early termination of his contract. He has been president and CEO since July 2012.
His resignation came after the extension of Tan Sri Leo Moggie as the chairman for another year until March 11 next year.
Industry observers said Amir Hamzah would benefit TNB given his 28 years of industry and international experience and extensive knowledge of the oil and gas, and marine logistics sectors.
Amir Hamzah started his career within the Shell group of companies for 10 years, serving in various capacities.
In a joint statement issued a few hours before the announcement, TNB unions said they were open to any decision on its president and CEO.
TNB support service officers’ union president Mohd Roszeli Majid said it was hopeful that the new CEO would look into enhancing and tightening industrial harmony among all level of staff, unions and associations.
“I don’t think the new appointment will affect TNB’s operations as leaders come and go, but the company has to keep growing to sustain and serve the nation and people.
“From TNB’s history, we have had CEOs from outside of TNB, such as Datuk Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Datuk Awang Adek Hussin and Tan Sri Tajuddin Ali, as well as others.
“We look forward to giving full cooperation and work hard with him (the new CEO) to make sure not only stakeholders, but our nation and rakyat become our priority,” he added.