Malaysia Airlines Appoints Capt. Izham Ismail as its New CEO

23rd Oct 2017

Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) has appointed its third chief executive officer in just three years. Following the departure of the current CEO Peter Bellew, the MAB board of directors had named Captain Izham Ismail as the new group CEO.

By appointing Captain Izham, MAB discontinued the trend of bringing outsiders to fill the role of group CEO as he is the current chief operating officer at the airline.

MAB Chairman Md Nor Yusof welcomed the new GCEO, saying:

On behalf of the Malaysia Airlines group, I am extremely pleased to welcome Captain Izham to this new role. Captain Izham is a key member of the MH family and brings with him 38 years of experience in the aviation industry. He has a valuable breadth of understanding that spans airline operations and business management. 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 further forward and ensure the turnaround plan is met.

He added:

The MRP launched by Khazanah Nasional Berhad on 29 August 2014 provides for plans for a local successor, and the succession plan has now been accelerated. We are now in the third year of the five year MRP and it is timely for us to appoint a Malaysian to see it through to the finish line.

Capt. 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 MRP, and I am looking forward to working with my MH colleagues to make this airline the pride of the nation again.

Meanwhile, experts seem to be a little cautious in praising Captain Izham and say it’s too early to make an opinion on him.

Founder of an aviation consultancy company Endau Analytics Shukor Yusof said the airline’s future was in the air once again after Bellew decided to leave for Ryanair.

Bellew, who took over from Christoph Mueller on 1^st July, 2016 focused mostly on maximizing load factor, controlling costs and being competitive.

Speaking about what kind of management style Capt. Izham might bring, Yusof said:

It is too early to say what the next CEO should do because different CEO’s have different styles.

Captain Izham will officially take over the group chief executive officer position from Peter Bellew on 1^st December this year. Currently, Bellew is on administrative leave as he decided to join the low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair.