Malaysia Aviation Group MD Izham to retire on Jan 31, Nasaruddin to take over

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 12): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent of Malaysia Airlines, on Wednesday announced that Datuk Captain Izham Ismail will retire as group managing director on Jan 31, 2026, after over 40 years with the company. 

In a statement, MAG said Malaysia Airlines’ current chief operating officer Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar will take over as the new president and group chief executive officer, replacing the role of group managing director.

Izham, 64, has led MAG and Malaysia Airlines for eight years and is the longest-serving CEO of the national carrier since it underwent a full reset — dubbed the 12-point MAS recovery plan — in 2014. 

Nasaruddin, who has over 30 years of experience in flight operations and management, brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of MAG’s business, culture and strategic ambitions, having led multiple transformation initiatives, including the successful turnaround of MASwings in 2022 and the implementation of profit-driven structures under the Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 (LTBP2.0).

As president and CEO, he will oversee the implementation of the group’s strategic priorities, focusing on operational excellence, customer experience, and sustainable growth across its airline and non-airline divisions. 

MAG board member and Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said the board has full confidence in Nasaruddin’s leadership to advance MAG’s strategic priorities and strengthen the group’s position in a competitive global aviation landscape. Khazanah owns an 83.58% stake in MAG.

“On behalf of the board and the entire MAG family, we extend our sincere gratitude to Datuk Captain Izham for his outstanding service and leadership. He has exemplified relentless commitment, integrity and passion in guiding MAG through pivotal periods of transformation and growth. His tenure has strengthened the group, defined its strategic direction and fostered a high-performance culture that positions MAG for continued success. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” Amirul said.