Proton Holdings Berhad will get a new CEO effective April 1, 2016. The new man in the hot seat will be Datuk Ahmad Fuaad bin Kenali, who is currently DRB-HICOM’s CFO.
Prior to joining DRB-HICOM, Datuk Ahmad Fuaad was the Chief Financial Officer at Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. He has held positions in Arthur Andersen & Co, Petaling Garden and Ernst & Young in the past.
The national carmaker will also get a new Deputy CEO – Datuk Radzaif bin Mohamed, currently DRB-HICOM COO in charge of Automotive Distribution & Manufacturing.
Current Proton CEO Datuk Harith will go back to DRB-HICOM as head of the Automotive Distribution & Manufacturing division to resume the position vacated by Datuk Radzaif.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Get new designer also.
Better for Proton to just close shop as that day is coming soon. Better for the rakyat and better for the Government as the Government has been pumping too much of money to Proton despite being in Private Hands few years now.
People are scared to buy a car no matter how cheap from a company that may go bust. You see, all this while, because of Mahathir, sales have been good. As we all know, 90% of Proton sales actually go to the Government.
Last year Proton sold 100,000 cars. In reality, only about 10% we bought by the public. The bulk of the purchase was bought by various government departments and ministries, enforcement divisions (customs, immigresen, pdrm, UTK etc) and other organisations such as Bomba, TUDM, TLDM, KDRM, Tabung Haji, Risda etc etc
Now, Mahathir got problem with the Government. In retaliation and in spite, they even sacked him from Petronas.
It is a matter of time before he is sacked from Proton too by the Government. Even if they don’t sack him, they will make sure they will cut down on Government orders just to get back at him. Payback time. They know Proton is his cherished baby.
How to survive? Proton, with Mahathir’s help can only sell 100,000 cars. Now, with orders possibly cut, there will be a big problem. How to feed the 30,000 Proton staff??
Proton has one of the largest staffing of any car manufacturer in the world.
I dare not buy anything from a company that is hanging on a thread. No money means compromise in quality and safety ie definitely use 2nd grade parts.
Only politician is free to write such a long comment
At least Proton is better than my VW. Proton does not breakdown unlike VW always have to call tow truck
flip flop ….. in hope for different results from same policy ? Many dealers already close-shop because of frustration and continued market slide. Such a shame. Staff morale is all time low. Market talk now is can Proton outlive DrM ?
Allow proton to continue business, but must allow level playing field also. Let proton learn to strive without tongkat
Rather sell export car at loss before own local rakyat first. Really crazy lah.
In Saudi, every single Proton model is sold for half the price than what it is sold in Malaysia. We sell half price to rich Arabs but for Malaysians we sell double the price.
OMG…it wont help, pls close shop better.
OMG..P1 New CEO – Chief Entertainment Officer..hahaha
replace everything, still fails..
Saga still make Rm500 profits also.
The CEO must first trim his company. Proton’s workforce is way too much.
This is like MAS or even our own Government. Give people jobs for free and fun. Don’t care about business economics. Just give free jobs.
MAS went into bankruptcy cause 100 people do 1 person’s job. but now, the new white man is doing a good job trimming the bloated staff, most of whom goyang kaki.
I hope Proton don’t follow our government style. Our Government the champion in the world. Malaysia has the highest number of Civil Servants in the world 1.5 million Government Servants.
Like MAS, 100 people do 1 person’s job. So, everybody can relax most of the time. Most Government servants, just goyang kaki.
Do you know, Australia employs only 250,000 Government Servants and we employ 1.5 million Government Servants?
The same with Proton, it probably only needs 10,000 staff. I hope the new CEO trims the 30,000 staff to 10,000. Keep the company trim. No need to give free jobs just because of fun.
tongkat culture always continues…
Hello CEO, welcome to Proton. I would like to give you some advice.
1) Don’t lie when sales are not doing well. The Iriz for instance, your ex-CEO said there was a long list of orders until Proton also cannot keep up. Then Mahathir comes out and says Iriz sales are so bad. This makes the company look so bad. Who is really lying? CEO or Chairman?
2) Since company now in private hands of DRB, why keep on asking money from our Government? This has to stop. Private is private. DRB should fund Proton completely. Under the disguise of R&D, Proton till today receives hundreds of millions of ringgit per year.
3) Reduce prices. Being the National car, you should start reducing car prices by 30% as promised by Najib. Why wait for Najib when you can do it yourself? Honour your PM and follow what he has asked. He said car prices would come down by 30% 3 years ago. As the national car maker, you should be the first to do this.
4) Be fair to your fellow Malaysians. CBU and CKD should be the same. I have driven export versions of Proton in UK and the quality is 100x better than the Protons for Malaysians in Malaysia. Is this fair? Proton was created for Malaysians. Because of Proton, all other car brands prices had to be pushed up substantially to protect Proton. This resulted in 3 to 4 fold price increases the past 20 years when globally car prices went up maybe double due to inflation.
Malaysians already suffered so much to sustain Proton. It is only right that Proton give Malaysians Proton with the quality of Export Quality Protons. Why are Malaysians treated like beggars and give the lower quality Proton?
I thank you CEO. Remember, be honest to the rakyat. Only then, we will be honest with you back
Must be same politician…
Can the new CEO change all proton vendors? When Mahathir created Proton, he made sure every single part of the Proton car is supplied by his crony buddies.
And these crony buddies overcharge Proton by ten times whilst giving poor and inferior parts. That is why your Proton always falls apart and everybody blames quality control. That is the reason also why Proton makes only RM500 per car that they sell.
Proton is losing money because of the crony vendors who are overcharging Proton. For example, per car Mat is sold to Proton for RM100 whilst you can buy the same car mat from brothers for RM10.
And each crony vendor makes tens of million clean profit per year raping our dear beloved Proton.
So, new CEO or not, until ALL Proton’s vendors are changed, how can the quality go up?
Mahathir you won’t do this. All his buddies have got the contract to be vendors to Proton.
He will just ensure that all the vendors for Proton remain the same. All his buddies and relatives, so why upset his relatives when he can continue his past misgivings?
Proton will still get the same low inferior quality parts it has been getting for the past 30 years and it will still be overcharged by 10 times for each part the vendors supply.
Malaysians have already suffered so much. For 30 years, 30 million people suffer so much. We struggle paying for our high car prices all because of one man’s dream of benefitting his buddies and friends.
Until Proton changes ALL their vendors, Proton will be a loss making organisation because it produces super low quality cars due to its vendors supplying Proton Super low Quality parts.
Can the CEO or Mahathir come here and give us a list of every single vendor and who owns these vendor companies?
Protong has not learnt a precious lesson: TO BE COLOR BLIND.
MAS has a new mat salleh MD.They are coming out of intensive care after chopping off 6ooo dead wood.
By boob or hook, pls get a orang putih like Carlos Ghosn.You can smell an air of dignity and success.
What you think only Mat Saleh can hold this top post?
Mat salleh has done homework. Based on bcg matrix and malaysian/asean auto industries, plotong should be given to the …s.
Its about talent la chik oi. Kalau dah tak reti, cari orang yang reti, lepas tu belajar dari dia. Ataupun buat apa orang yang berjaya buat. Ini bukan soal pride, this is a business. They need to put the right guy with the right credentials for the right job. Klau kena ambik orang, ambik je lah. Apa nak malu? Kalau buisness gies belly up lagi malu….
You talk like there is no company lead by orang putih fail before. And not only Proton protected by Gov, certain Japs brand here in Malaysia protected by Gov la. TCM, UMW color blind??
TCM, UMW don’t rely much on tongkat culture.
Proton still got tongkat culture. How to do well?
somehow i agree with encik albert.. bcoz after so many many many many years n so many CEOs, Proton still not doing well..
A local AGAIN ??
Very democratic company. Every 3-4 years can change new prime minister.
what is your problem?
Merdeka?
Forget new CEO, when will they launch the new cars?
Easier to cure cancer than fixing Proton.
Just another merry-go-round.
What is Proton financial status now? Still making big loss? Total debt how many RM billions so far?
ho hum.. more of the same o same o… as if anything will change in P1
another CEO? and again another DRB manager who is an accountant? this is the end of Proton for sure.
Spm holder also can become menteri. Nothing wrong what.
Truly agree.
Proton was in dilemma either to survive or suicide. Now Proton has chose their path by appointing this ex-CFO — to suicide.
RIP.
This guy also promote tongkat culture, just like Proton. So, he will do well in Proton. DRB also big time tongkat culture
A good CEO is important in business, orang Rusian pun tak apa, kan?
Japanese CEO can teach them good working culture in order to reach 10 million car sales globally per year.
As usual these clowns will ask the public to renew their perception about Proton and give them yet another chance with this new CEO. What else is new in Proton.
When low sales blame rakyat again.
Lets be balance….just hope new CEO bring luck to proton…if not….gg
Dato Radzaif selalu kutuk Proton is now Deputy CEO for Proton..kahkahkah…padan muka..now its his turn..
IMHO When you put a bean counter for the head of a car maker that spells the end of the road for the company.
What Proton need are real experienced engineers who can develop prototype engine & platform from scratch on their own without need of million of dollars outsourcing job. Something ppl from the Arts stream will never be able to achieve no matter how good they are.
New CEO or what nobody gives a damn. Nobody cares whether Proton can survive or not. Malaysians just want Proton to close shop period. Don’t worry guys Proton will close shop one day. I pray for that to happen. What goes around comes around.
They should have hired Claudio Ranieri
Three word for new CEO, make killer model. How, find me….
3 words: Perodua Axia Sedan.
My congrats to Datuk Ahmad Fuaad. Good luck and all the best in executing the latter half of Proton’s turnaround plan. Datuk Harith has already set the company on a good track, the new safety USP and Iriz is the proof in the pudding.
Still, I personally wish Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin could return to Proton before it’s too late. And I know it’s not just me, a lot of people want him back too. He’s easily the best CEO Proton has ever had… sorry to say, Tengku Mahaleel is the worst one. His tenure was ambitious, but rubbish. Sigh.
Sell it off to China company lah.
Iriz …… do something to the cvt…..the only good thing missing from the car.
I dont see any chance for datuk zainal to return to proton. As long as theres politicians in the board of directors, good n sincere ceo like him will never survive. Politicians BOD only interested in making money for themselve only. Not for the sake of Proton or rakyat well being.
Can’t agree with the comments made – putting an accountant as CEO is likening to the end. Probably placed there to see how they can squeeze the bleeding company dry while they can.
It would be better to change the culture at Proton and that is a tall order. They are trying. to do that at other GLCs with limited results.
The simple reason is because the directors are made of tired, listless persons who were ex-government retirees while the managers are abused by senior managers who are clueless to management to begin with. The results are newly appointed managers are unable to bring changes.
What? Isn’ t he one of the board of director member. What is wrong with u Tun M? U r so busy with najib and just make things worst at proton. First quarter is about to end and the all new perdana not even launched.. seriously Tun Mahathir. If u love your baby project which is proton, stop all shit things with the Pm and just fix proton (which is quite impossible).. mm.. what about another Mat salleh to take over CEO post and do all the necessity to revive the company.. sometimes, its a bitter reality to admit some mat salleh can make a difference with their unpopular stance but it works..
Problem is even they employ the best Mat Salleh CEO, he will run away and resign in few month. they will not allow him to do anything as they want to protect their own interest. in case of MAS, the CEO was given full power and no one interfered, that is why his plan is working. DRB had two German Top shots, Andreas Prinz and Dr. Zeno. Both resigned and left after less than a year because if interference by Dato Harith, Tun M and rest. Proton needs a complete new overhaul by sacking all middle, top managers and board and appoint new team and then go after all the corrupt and useless employees who get five figure salaries when company is dying and they do no work and no KPI. just go to their R&D office and you can see many of these people.
Wow… Proton is so bad beyond repair.
In short, Proton needs a system re-start, now the Proton Operating System is in hanging mode.
the cronies suppliers, from MASS to Protong, same repeated scheme
Waited for the new perdana since Oct last year till now. Day 1, already placed booking fee. Proton can’t even quote its price. Let me suggest; 2.4L goes for RM118k, 2.0L @ RM98k! Beyond this price range, i heading for Accord, Teana or Camry. Byebye Perdana
To the new management. Do you have faith on Proton brand and products? Or you just instructed to take the jobs?
Good luck! :-)
Looks like the rumour is true.
Tg Malim plant will close down cos supply outstrips demand.
Tg Malim stockpile increasing and yet 2015 units still lying in the yard.
Pls don’t be like VW , keeping 2014 stock.
Time to stop production and start trimming your bloated workforce.
DRB share price is now a penny stock, DRB is a public listed co. & not a charitable org.
Always overpromise but under deliver.
Better sell empty kilang to Perodua. Even Axia alone have 100K sales (equally entire Proton sales!) and not to mention the upcoming Perodua Axia Sedan which will add another 100K sales to already busy full capacity Perodua.
It is highly wasteful for Proton to keep 2 half empty factories only for 100K car sales but if sold to Perodua it is win-win deal for both of them. Proton will get instant cash while Perodua will get ready-made factory to meet the super high demand.
#1JutaAxiaSedan
#KipidapPerodua
#DongidapPerodua
habiz la proton this time….
No wonder never disclose profit/loss account to rakyat (using excuse private company) but at Dewan Rakyat still need MITI to speak on its behalf.
quite suprised also that Miti has to answer.. plus.. if its really a private company, why is a question about proton even brought up in parliment?
No engineering background. From arthur anderson, ha ha…ask any corporate governance students on Enron. Drb and astro shares, nothing impressive, yea?? Don’t expect any jack welch to turnaround proton any time soon.
Just sell the company to a bigger group. No shame in that really. Its how business works. If it starts to make an impact under a new ownership it will be the pride of Malaysia.
Better make loss than fall to China company bailout.
No expectation. Just do away with the stupid taxation, and compete.
Can’t compete, do proper partnership…
Can’t do partnership…don’t bother burdening rakyat with scrap metal on the road…airbag fail, tie rod break, rust, hit curb entire chassis total…. You treat rakyat who supported u like that…u shouldn’t ask patriotism back.
Cloning Accord just for the sake showing D-segment car in the lineup. Simply delusional and nonsensical. Govt itself can buy latest Accord at zero duty price which shows how pointless new Perdana really is.
Proton, just sell your shares to Perodua. Make your factory to assemble P2….
protong will get a new fool on 1st April! LOL! what a good choice of the date….
Why in the hell wont they get someone whos already in the automotive sector? Why cant they get the right guy with the right credentials for the right job? Why do they think they have to reinvent the wheel?
This is will be the right sizing exercise.