Idris Jala bagged strategist award

Idris Jala, MAS managing director and chief executive officer has been honoured with "Excellence in Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan, a leading strategic market consulting and training services provider.

Idris Jala who hailed from the interior Sarawak is an Orang Ulu and a devoted Christian was appointed managing director and chief executive officer of MAS in December 2005 in the aftermath of the national carrier's biggest financial loss in its corporate history.

There was a speculation that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi picked him as he thought Idris is a Malay. Obviously Abdullah was too sleepy that time to read details of Idris. Others speculated that the "hand" that have real interests in MAS no longer trusted Malay CEO to drag MAS deeper into the red and therefore, picked Idris as the CEO of MAS and turn around it into profit.

From a nine-month loss of RM1.3 billion in 2005, he managed to turnaround the airline in less than two years. The airline registered a record RM851 million in net profit in 2007.

Your Ad Here

From DailyExpress

Idris Jala receives 'Excellence in Leadership' Award from F&S

Kuala Lumpur: MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala has been honoured with "Excellence in Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan, a leading strategic market consulting and training services provider.

"I am honoured to receive this award. However, this award belongs to the entire team at Malaysia Airlines. Without their support and cooperation, I would not have been able to achieve the successful turnaround of Malaysia Airlines," he said in a statement.

Idris was the sole recipient from the aviation industry to receive an award at the Frost & Sullivan awards ceremony at Mandarin Oriental Hotel yesterday.

MAS Chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid said the award recognises Idris as an individual who has made significant impact through his excellence in leadership, innovation in decision-making, implementation of strategies and accomplishments in driving the turnaround of Malaysia Airlines.

"His compelling and inspirational leadership have won the respect of all of us within the company, industry and the general public. We are proud of him and he has our whole-hearted and continued support of his leadership as we march forward with our Business Transformation Plan," he added.

Idris was appointed managing director and chief executive officer in December 2005 in the aftermath of the national carrier's biggest financial loss in its corporate history.

In February 2006, he announced the airlines Business Turnaround Plan (BTP).

From a nine-month loss of RM1.3 billion in 2005, he managed to turnaround the airline in less than two years.

The airline registered a record RM851 million in net profit in 2007.

Building upon its successful BTP, Idris announced Malaysia Airlines five-year Business Transformation Plan Two in January aimed at achieving RM1.5 billion annual profit by 2012. - Bernama