Fernandes now MAS director, Azmil resigns

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) has appointed Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun as non-independent non-executive directors effective Aug 11, 2011.

Fernandes is the founder/group executive officer of AirAsia Bhd while Kamarudin is the co-founder of Tune Group and deputy group chief executive director of AirAsia since December 2001.

In a statement today, MAS also announced the appointment of Tan Sri Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah, Tan Sri Tan Boon Seng @ Krishnan, Datuk Rohana Rozhan and David Lau Nai Pek as independent non-executive directors of the company.

Mohammed Rashdan Mohd Yusof was also re-designated as executive director of the company, being seconded from Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

These appointments will be effective Aug 9, it said.

Wan Azmi is an active investor, whose family has significant interest in E&O Bhd, Pure Circle Ltd, Steppe Cement Ltd and other gold and mining exploration companies.

Tan is currently executive deputy chairman of IJM Corp Bhd.

Rohana is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Astro Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Lau is a director of Axiata Bhd, Celcom Axiata Bhd and Shell Refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Bhd.

Meanwhile, MAS said Datuk N. Sadasivan N.N. Pillay, Keong Choon Keat, Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Annuar Zaini, Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Datuk Sukarti Wakiman and Martin Gilbert Barrow resigned as independent non-executive directors of the company effective Aug 7 and 8, 2011.

It also announced the resignation of managing director (MD), Tengku Datuk Seri Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz, effective today.

Azmil will join Khazanah as executive director, investments, effective Sept 12, 2011, MAS said.

MAS chairman, Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof, said Azmil has made a significant contribution in the company’s transformation during his tenure as both CEO and chief financial officer.

"I would like to record my thanks to Azmil for his contributions and services to the company for the last seven years, initially as a non-executive director, later on as an executive director/chief financial officer and finally as MD/CEO.

"This is a passing of the baton to our new directors, all of whom are immensely qualified and will bring a diverse set of management experience to our board," he said.

The board also announced the establishment of an executive committee (exco) to be chaired by Md Nor.

The exco will comprise Datuk Mohamed Azman Yahya, Mohammed Rashdan, Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, it said.

It will oversee the management of the company until such time a new managing director is appointed, it said. - Bernama