There’s change at the top of Malaysia Airlines. Captain Izham Ismail will step down from his position as group managing director, effective 31 January 2026.
He leaves with the gratitude of the Malaysia Airlines Group board who thanked him for “outstanding service and leadership”.
“He has exemplified relentless commitment, integrity and passion in guiding MAG through pivotal periods of transformation and growth,” the board said in a statement.
“His tenure has strengthened the group, defined its strategic direction and fostered a high-performance culture that positions MAG for continued success.”
Captain Izham began his career with Malaysia Airlines as a pilot in 1979 and rose through the ranks to hold various key leadership roles before being appointed as the group managing director in December 2017, making him the company’s longest-serving chief executive.
He will be succeeded by Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar (“Captain Nasa”) in the new designation of president and group chief executive officer.
Captain Nasa, a homegrown leader with more than three decades of experience across flight operations, management and strategic roles within MAG, has held several leadership positions within the group, most recently as chief operating officer of Malaysia Airlines.