KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has introduced a new chief airports officer (CAO) role as part of a broader organisational realignment following its recent privatisation.
It is understood the airport operator has roped in heavyweight aviation talent, Bryan Thompson to take on the job effective May 9, 2025, reporting directly to MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, who was appointed in August 2024.
Thompson, who previously served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Abu Dhabi Airports, brings over three decades of international experience in airport operations and transformation.
According to his LinkedIn, his most recent position was executive director for the futuristic US$500 billion Neom Airport project in Saudi Arabia.
MAHB has confirmed to Business Times Thompson’s appointment, saying that the establishment of the CAO position is aligned with new shareholders’ plans to drive growth and service excellence and it marks a strategic pivot for the group, providing end-to-end leadership and operational cohesion across its airport network.
“This reflects the group’s sharpened focus on strengthening operational performance, elevating passenger experience, and building capacity for long-term competitiveness as a leading aviation hub,” MAHB added.
Industry sources familiar with the changes said Thompson would oversee operations at MAHB’s two key subsidiaries – Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd (MA Sepang) and Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB).
MA Sepang manages Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, while MASB oversees the operations of all other airports in Malaysia, including short take-off and landing ports (STOLports).
Thompson is also said to take the helm of MAHB’s commercial and strategy divisions, with several key managers reporting to him.
These include Gordon Stewart as chief operating officer of MA Sepang, Kamaruzzaman Razali as chief operating officer of MASB, as well as chief aviation and strategy officer helmed by Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin and Hani Ezra Hussin as senior general manager – commercial.
MAHB is also said to have created a new Special Projects portfolio under the CAO’s purview. The division would focus on driving improvements to crucial airport systems and infrastructure, including baggage handling across the group’s 39 airports nationwide.
MAHB was privatised in February 2025. It is now wholly owned by the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA), a consortium made up of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), with the Malaysian government retaining a golden share.
One of the most closely watched developments is the resumption of KLIA Aerotrain service at KLIA Terminal 1, a key project that had faced setbacks over the last couple of years.
In January this year, Mohd Izani told the media that the aerotrain is undergoing rigorous testing and would resume operations once cleared by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the Ministry of Transport.
He said the aerotrain service would resume by June 2025 at the latest, with the project cost remaining at RM456 million.
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