Captain Izham Ismail named Malaysia Airlines new CEO

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) today announced the appointment of Captain Izham Ismail as its new CEO and executive director to replace outgoing Peter Bellew.
Izham is presently the COO of MAB and he will assume the role of CEO on Dec 1 upon the departure of Bellew, who is currently on administrative leave. Bellew will return to Ryanair as COO on Dec 1.
MAB said in a statement that Izham's appointment is in line with the succession plan that MAB has put in place as part of the 12-point MAS Recovery Plan (MRP), which provides for the development and succession of Malaysian leadership talent.
"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."
MAB said 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 MAB as a pilot in 1979. He broke world aviation records when he flew the 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."
MAB noted that Izham has climbed through the ranks over the years, including as senior instructor pilot, fleet manager and director of operations. Prior to becoming COO in 2016, he served as CEO of MASwings, sister company of MAB in Sabah and Sarawak.
"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," said Md Nor Yusof.
"The MRP launched by Khazanah Nasional Bhd on August 29, 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," he added.
Meanwhile, Izham said he is extremely honoured to be entrusted with the new position.
"My entire career has been spent with MAB 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," he noted.