GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has named its regional senior vice-president for Australia, New Zealand and South West Pacific, Ignatius Ong Ming Choy, as the new chief operating officer (COO) of its short-haul operations effective December 10.
Ong will take over from Datuk Eddy Leong who tendered his resignation this week.
The airline also confirmed a Business Times report on Tuesday that Leong will move to Khazanah Nasional Bhd. He will join the sovereign fund's wholly-owned subsidiary, Destinations Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH), as its chief operating officer.
"I welcome Ong on board Firefly to take it to further heights as Malaysia's truly community airline," MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement.
The statement also noted that Leong will remain in MAS until December 31 and work with Ahmad Jauhari for seamless business continuity and a smooth handover to Ong.
It is learnt that Leong will go on leave by the middle of December, prior to leaving the company.
Before joining MAS, Ong was a senior consultant at global management, technology services and outsourcing firm Accenture for four years.
Meanwhile, Leong told Business Times that he is expected to start his new job on January 2.
"I will be returning to my first love which are hotels, resorts, bungalows and residences," Leong said, in reference to his previous role in MAS as project manager for the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi.
Leong, who is an accountant by training, was credited with having the hotel project completed within cost.
DRH, formerly known as Pantai Sabak Ventures Sdn Bhd, is a company tasked by Khazanah to be lead developer in the leisure and tourism sector.
Current key projects undertaken by the company are the development of land in Desaru, Johor, and Teluk Datai in Langkawi via its investment in Desaru Development Corporation Sdn Bhd and Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd respectively.
Ong will take over from Datuk Eddy Leong who tendered his resignation this week.
The airline also confirmed a Business Times report on Tuesday that Leong will move to Khazanah Nasional Bhd. He will join the sovereign fund's wholly-owned subsidiary, Destinations Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH), as its chief operating officer.
"I welcome Ong on board Firefly to take it to further heights as Malaysia's truly community airline," MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement.
The statement also noted that Leong will remain in MAS until December 31 and work with Ahmad Jauhari for seamless business continuity and a smooth handover to Ong.
It is learnt that Leong will go on leave by the middle of December, prior to leaving the company.
Before joining MAS, Ong was a senior consultant at global management, technology services and outsourcing firm Accenture for four years.
Meanwhile, Leong told Business Times that he is expected to start his new job on January 2.
"I will be returning to my first love which are hotels, resorts, bungalows and residences," Leong said, in reference to his previous role in MAS as project manager for the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi.
Leong, who is an accountant by training, was credited with having the hotel project completed within cost.
DRH, formerly known as Pantai Sabak Ventures Sdn Bhd, is a company tasked by Khazanah to be lead developer in the leisure and tourism sector.
Current key projects undertaken by the company are the development of land in Desaru, Johor, and Teluk Datai in Langkawi via its investment in Desaru Development Corporation Sdn Bhd and Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd respectively.
