Axiata to see leadership change, with CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim set to retire

Axiata Group's president and group CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim (pictured left) will be stepping down at the end of 2020, after his contract which was slated to expire on 2 March was extended until year end.

At the same time, the telco has named Mohd Izzaddin Idris (pictured right) deputy group CEO and group CEO-designate, effective immediately. According to the Bursa filing, the contract extension was to ensure a smooth and successful leadership transition. Jamaludin led Axiata for four terms and assumed senior roles in the telco and ICT industry for 39 years.

Jamaludin said having had the privilege of helming Axiata for the last 12 years, he feels it is timely for him to pass the mantle of leadership to a strong and dedicated professional and at the same time, ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“Izzaddin is no stranger to the organisation given the strategic roles he has played to take Axiata to where it is today. We have worked very closely for some years, and I look forward to working together in the year ahead in achieving our ambitious goals with 'Operational Excellence' as the group-wide battle cry. I thank the Board very much for their continued trust in me, and deeply appreciate their support as we execute our 2020 strategies," he added.

In his new role, Izzaddin will oversee key corporate functions namely marketing, corporate affairs, finance, strategy, cybersecurity, privacy and trust, and ethics and compliance. He will also be responsible for two of the three core areas, namely edotco, the infrastructure tower business, and Axiata Digital, its digital services business. Izzaddin will report to Jamaludin in the interim before succeeding him at the end of 2020.

Currently a board member, Izzaddin is redesignated as an executive director. He has served on Axiata's board since November 2016 and was also previously group MD and CEO of UEM Group. During his time there, he led civil structural completions as well as mergers and acquisitions to ensure UEM's continued growth and profitability. Before that, he was Tenaga Nasional's CFO for five years since 2004. He also held senior positions in Southern Bank, Ranhill and Malaysian Resources Corporation.

Izzaddin said: “I am humbled and grateful for the trust given to me by the Axiata Board and am excited by the opportunity to work closely with Jamaludin and the Axiata Team in addressing the challenges ahead.”

Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid, chairman of the Axiata Board said the leadership transition is part of an institutionalised and multi-year succession process for the group CEO position where it conducted extensive search involving many top candidates of diverse backgrounds.

"This plan provides for a well-managed and smooth transition to ensure the continuity of leadership to achieve the Group’s ambitious goals as we move forward with the execution of our digital transformation strategy," he added.