AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) has reshuffled its top management as part of the ongoing consolidation of the AirAsia Group’s aviation businesses under AAX, with effect from yesterday.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the long-haul low-cost carrier said its chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail has been redesignated as general manager. Benyamin, 48, joined AirAsia in March 2010 and has served as CEO of AAX since Sept 1, 2015.
The company credited Benyamin with steering AAX through a challenging period, including its successful debt restructuring. Under his leadership, AAX recorded consistent quarterly profitability, which played a key role in the airline’s exit from Practice Note 17 (PN17) status.
In a separate filing, AAX also announced the appointment of Tharumalingam Kanagalingam as its new group chief executive officer, effective on the same date.
Commonly known as Bo Lingam, Tharumalingam joined AirAsia in 2001 and has been a central figure in the group’s development for more than two decades. He has been instrumental in shaping the AirAsia Aviation Group’s strategic direction and operational framework, particularly in areas related to network planning, operations and group-wide integration.
AAX said the leadership changes are intended to strengthen management continuity and support the group’s next phase of growth as it brings all aviation-related businesses under a single listed entity.
