Malaysia Aviation Group reshuffles leadership and operating model to ready for 2.0 business plan

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will be implementing leadership changes as it proceeds forward with a new target operating model. The new operating model will oversee support functions and subsidiaries across its dedicated profit centres, namely airlines, loyalty and travel solutions, and aviation services. According to a statement from the company, with the new structure, the MAG senior leadership team will be able to better report across the Group and business verticals.  Taking on the role of CEO of the Ariline entity is Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi. He will be supported by chief operating officers across Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings, and AMAL.

Meanwhile for its loyalty portfolio, which covers MAG’s end-to-end travel solutions and loyalty programmes, complementing its established strength and expertise in the airline and aviation service businesses Philip See will oversee the portfolio as CEO of Loyalty & Travel Solutions, double hatting the role of group chief sustainability officer. This includes Journify, MHholidays, Firefly Holidays, and Enrich In fact the group also recently hired Hemanth Jayaraman to the role head of marketing for Malaysia Airlines’ loyalty and travel solutions arm. At the same time Waikuan Wong was promoted to the new head of airlines global marketing.

Aviation services which covers areas such acargo, ground handling, training, and maintenance, will be overseen by Mohd Nadziruddin Mohd Basri as the CEO of Aviation Services.

What’s the long term plan?

According to the company under the new operating model, MAG will be better placed to deliver its Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 in a “more cohesive and unified manner, with greater emphasis on transparency and accountability” through a clear profit and loss (P&L). There will also be a clearer reporting structure which will empower each vertical to drive business growth; and diversify the Group’s revenue streams beyond its airlines business.

“The new set-up allows MAG to have a more dynamic reporting structure under each profit centre, including dedicated Loyalty & Travel Solutions and Aviation Services functions to drive revenue growth," said Captain Izham Ismail, who will continue to provide the steer on the entire MAG business support functions and operations as Group CEO of MAG. He added that the new structure will promote better synergy as the group collectively work towards fulfilling its long-term business plan aspirations of becoming Asia’s leading travel and aviation services group.

He added, “While the existing structure has enabled us to be futureproof, we continue implementing a strong and flexible organisational structure that will set the Group up for long-term success.”

On the branding and CX front, Captain Izham Ismail and the leadership at MAG is also supported by Lau Yin May, group chief branding & customer experience officer. Lau has been with the company for over four years and has had experience on the agency, consulting and marketing side. 

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) current Airlines business portfolio that serves the global, domestic and segmented market comprises Malaysia Airlines – the national carrier of Malaysia, Firefly and MASwings – the regional airlines focused on serving communities across Malaysia, and AMAL by Malaysia Airlines – leading one-stop pilgrimage travel solutions centre.

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