KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) announced Friday that its chief operating officer Izham Ismail will replace Peter Bellew as the national carrier's new chief executive officer (CEO), with immediate effect.
In a statement, MAS said Izham will also be the group's executive director.
"Izham will assume the role of chief executive officer on Dec. 1 upon the departure of Peter Bellew who is currently on administrative leave," it said.
It was reported earlier that Bellew would re-join the Irish Airliner Ryanair as chief operations officer.
"Izham has been integral to the airline's ongoing turnaround effort. As chief operating officer, he was responsible for the operations division, which includes flight and airport operations as well as engineering," MAS said.
Izham, who started his career with Malaysia Airlines as a pilot in 1979, has 38 years of experience in the aviation industry.
