Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has appointed Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar, popularly known as Captain Nasa, as its new President and Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 February 2026. He will succeed Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, who retires on 31 January 2026 after an illustrious career of more than 40 years with the airline.

Datuk Captain Izham began his journey with Malaysia Airlines in 1979 as a pilot and rose through the ranks to hold key leadership positions. Appointed as Group Managing Director in December 2017, he is recognised as the airline’s longest-serving chief executive. His tenure witnessed major financial restructuring and operational reforms that restored MAG’s profitability and strengthened its financial foundation for the future.

Captain Nasa, a veteran with over three decades of experience within the Group, has held several pivotal roles across flight operations, management, and strategy. Most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer of Malaysia Airlines, he has been instrumental in implementing transformation programmes, including the turnaround of MASwings in 2022 and the introduction of profit-driven frameworks under the Long-Term Business Plan 2.0.

As the incoming President and Group CEO, Captain Nasa will spearhead MAG’s next strategic phase under the Long-Term Business Plan 3.0, focusing on operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability across its airline and non-airline divisions. He will oversee the Group’s three core profit centres, Airline Business, Loyalty and Travel Services, and Aviation Services, supported by a strong management team dedicated to driving performance and enhancing customer experience.

Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Board Member of MAG and Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, expressed his appreciation for the outgoing chief and optimism for the Group’s future leadership. He said, “On behalf of the Board and the entire MAG family, we extend our sincere gratitude to Datuk Captain Izham for his exceptional leadership and contributions. His unwavering dedication has guided MAG through pivotal transformation phases and strengthened its position for the future. We are pleased to welcome Captain Nasa as President and Group CEO of Malaysia Aviation Group. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of the business, the Board is confident that he will continue to advance MAG’s strategic priorities and reinforce its competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.”

This leadership transition reflects MAG’s strong governance framework and long-term vision for continuity and excellence as it embarks on the next phase of growth and transformation.