Capt Izham Ismail is new MAS chief executive officer

PETALING JAYA: Capt Izham Ismail (pix) has been appointed Malaysia Airlines Bhd executive director and group chief executive officer replacing Peter Bellew.

Capt Izham is presently the chief operating officer of the airline.

The Board of Directors (Board) of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) said Capt 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)."

The plan provides for the development and succession of Malaysian leadership talent in the company.

"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," they said in a statement.

Bellew resigned from MAS last week to take up a position at Ireland’s best known airline, Ryanair.

Capt 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," it said.

MAB chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof said: “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.”

Capt Izham has logged 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.