KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Iskandar Regional Development Authority on Wednesday named career civil servant Datuk Ashari Kasnan as its chief executive officer.

The appointment is effective Nov 1, the federal statutory body also known as IRDA said in a statement. He succeeds Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman, who has served as the agency’s chief executive since Jan 1, 2025.

Ashari will lead efforts to “facilitate strategic investments, strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness and promote balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth”, IRDA said.

IRDA operates under the Ministry of Economy and is the primary regulatory authority planning and facilitating the development of the metropolitan economic region of Iskandar Malaysia. The agency is also the lead coordinator for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

Prior to the latest appointment, Ashari served as the CEO of the Johor State Biotechnology and Biodiversity Corporation and J-Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd.

He brings more than three decades of experience in the Johor state civil service, spanning land administration, district administration, institutional development, entrepreneurship and economic development.

His previous appointments include deputy state secretary of Johor in charge of development, director of the Johor Land and Mines Office and Mersing district officer. Ashari also served as the state commissioner of IRDA from January 2016 to December 2017.

In his new role, Ashari will also advance Iskandar Malaysia’s long-term development priorities and reinforce Johor’s position as a competitive investment destination, IRDA added.