KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): KPJ Healthcare Bhd president and managing director Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh is stepping down, just five months after assuming the role on April 1.

He is stepping down from the position effective Wednesday (Sept 7) to pursue other opportunities, the group said in a statement on Monday (Sept 5).

Over the last two years, KPJ Healthcare has seen two managing directors come and go, namely Mohd Shukrie and Ahmad Shahizam Mohd Shariff.

Ahmad Shahizam is Mohd Shukrie's predecessor and was appointed as the group's managing director on July 9, 2020, before deciding to step down effective March 31 this year.

Prior to that, Datuk Amiruddin Abdul Satar served as managing director and president from Jan 1, 2013, to July 1, 2020.

In its statement on Monday, KPJ Healthcare said that its chief financial officer Norhaizam Mohammad will temporarily fill in the void left by Mohd Shukrie, and assume the role of officer in charge.

KPJ Healthcare chairman Datuk Md Arif Mahmood said the group is confident that with Norhaizam’s vast experience in the healthcare industry, she is fully capable of taking the helm as officer in charge, supported by the board, as well as an experienced senior management team.

“Moving forward, the company will remain focused on spearheading our strategic growth plans. Prospects continue to improve in the healthcare sector and KPJ Healthcare is well-positioned to capture the opportunities," he added.

Shares in KPJ Healthcare finished down 1.5 sen or 1.71% at 86 sen on Monday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM3.85 billion.