Maxis, the second largest mobile operator in Malaysia, appointed Robert Nason (pictured) as executive director and interim CEO.

The operator announced in November 2017 its CEO Morten Lundal, who took the helm in October 2013, would step down when his contract expires on 31 March.

Nason, who joined the board in 2016 as an independent director, relinquished his role as chairman and member of the audit committee, and stepped down from the same post on the business and IT transformation committee on 2 March, though he remains a member of the latter group.

He retired from Telstra in 2015 after leading a major transformation of the Australian company’s operations. His international experience includes spells working in the US and UK, along with transformation projects in Asia, Europe, North and South America.

Maxis said it will announce a permanent new CEO at the appropriate time.

The operator had a 27.7 per cent share of the country’s mobile connections at end-December 2017, marginally behind market leader Digi (28 per cent share), GSMA Intelligence data showed.