CEO Proton Stays

Here"s a follow-up to our previous breaking news, here’s the official statement from Proton that just came in:

“We refer to the news report in The Edge Financial Daily dated April 10, 2012 on the resignation of Proton’s group managing director, Datuk Seri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir. Proton is not aware of the source of this speculation. Datuk Seri Syed Zainal is still holding the position of the group managing director of Proton, and his services are still required in the company.

The post-acquisition exercise is still proceeding smoothly and upon the completion of the same, Proton is expected to have a strong synergy of current and new management team members that will provide Proton with the necessary impetus to lead the company in its aspiration to become a globally successful automotive player.”

Read the statement closely and you’ll see that Proton is not denying nor confirming the speculation of the resignation. As far as Proton is concerned, Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin is still in the driving seat.

However, according to The Malaysian Insider, Syed Zainal has indeed resigned and will remain in Proton until the middle of the year, when he will have completed his notice period. This means that Syed Zainal will be present to launch the Prevé, Proton’s global car that was conceived under his watch.

The report adds that the person being lined up to fill DSZ’s position is DRB-Hicom COO Datuk Lukman Ibrahim who, like Syed Zainal, once held a top managerial position in Perodua. What is undeniable is the fact that the post-acquisition exercise is still on-going and there are more changes to be expected once the dust settles.