'Returning to this team is a meaningful moment,' says TM's new VP of strategic comms

Telekom Malaysia (TM) has appointed Asril Idris as its new vice president of strategic communications, marking a significant return to the very division where he began his career 25 years ago. He officially stepped into the position on 16 July (Wednesday).

In this new role, Asril will be leading TM’s external and internal communications strategy — including media relations, crisis and issues management, employee engagement, corporate events, digital content, and narrative development. “It’s about ensuring TM’s story is communicated clearly, consistently, and with purpose,” he shared exclusively with A+M.

With over two decades of experience spanning both government and corporate sectors, Asril brings with him a broad understanding of public messaging, reputation management, and internal alignment. He has previously led national campaigns and ministerial communications and played a key role in internal culture-building efforts at TM itself.

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Previously, Asril served as head of employee engagement and culture at TM for nearly six years. Before that, he held the role of assistant general manager of employee communication from 2018 to 2019.

Prior to joining the national telco, Asril spent over four years in government service, where he was special officer to the minister of communications and multimedia, special officer to the minister of agriculture and agro-based industry, and later, head of corporate communications at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Returning to this team is a meaningful moment for me.

"I started my career here learning from some of the most respected communicators in the industry. Many of them once held this same role and helped define the standards I still uphold today,” said Asril. “I don’t have all the answers, but I know I’ll need the support of the incredible team here to succeed.”

In a recent LinkedIn post, he described the appointment as “a special feeling,” reflecting on the mentors who shaped his journey. Now at the helm, he looks forward to writing TM’s next chapter as a Digital Powerhouse, backed by a seasoned team and a renewed sense of purpose.

The previous vice president of strategic communications at TM was Najmuddin Abdullah, who held the role for a year and a half until February this year. The position had remained vacant since his departure. Before Najmuddin, the role was held by Saffura Chinniah.

Asril's appointment comes on the back of Frank Chan's recent departure as TM's general manager of strategic communications. Chan joined TM mid-2022, focusing on crisis communications, business continuity management, as well as media and content management.

Prior to that, he was the AVP of strategic communications and marketing at Axiata for six years. He also had some stints at webe digital, and the ICLIF Leadership and Governance Centre.

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