Less than three years at the helm of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Surina Shukri will be relinquishing her role as CEO, effective the end of August 2021.
“It has been an absolute privilege to lead MDEC and the nation’s digital economy agenda forward through the unexpected changes and significant challenges over the past two years and seven months. I am proud of what the team at MDEC has accomplished in these circumstances, focused on firmly establishing our beloved Malaysia as the Heart of Digital ASEAN. I am confident this team will continue to build on the successes that have been achieved to fully deliver on our mandate to the people and nation,” said Surina, who resigned to “focus on interests close to her heart”.
Appointed in January 2019, Surina was hired to lead the government agency at a time when a new government was in place, the first time the opposition took over the government in Malaysia’s six-decade-long history.
Surina’s departure comes amid major reshuffling — and exits — of MDEC key executives, which began in late 2020. The management overhaul, implemented under the new chairman, Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, saw a string of new hires including to fill new roles such as chief transformation officer, chief digital business officer and director of fintech and the Islamic digital economy, as well as an exodus of senior management including long-serving COO Ng Wan Peng and at least seven other senior executives. Until a new CEO is hired, the MDEC Management Operating Council will continue to operate in the interim.