KUALA LUMPUR: Former Employees Provident Fund (EPF) chief strategy officer Nurhisham Hussein and Tabung Haji chief executive officer (CEO) Syed Hamadah Syed Othman have emerged as among possible candidates to succeed Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan at the country's largest pension fund.
Amir Hamzah, who joined the EPF in March 2021, was appointed as finance minister II yesterday following a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School economic analyst Assoc Prof Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid said the pension fund would need time to find a suitable replacement.
"Whether it's an internal or external (appointment), that does not matter as long as the person is a qualified professional, having fund management experience and has good knowledge of the global financial market," he said.
Meanwhile, sources said for now, an acting CEO would be appointed, who might either be the fund's current chief operating officer or chief financial officer.
Economists agreed that the EPF would need a bit of time to ensure a thoughtful and strategic selection process.
The EPF had said an announcement on its new CEO "will be made in due course".
Amir Hamzah's departure follows that of Nurhisham, who was seconded to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in October to serve a two-year term there.
He is now senior director of economics and finance at the PMO.
Syed Hamadah, on the other hand, was appointed as Tabung Haji managing director and CEO on May 6.
He previously served as the CEO of EPF from 2018 until 2020. His name also cropped up as the potential replacement for then-CEO Tunku Alizakri Alias in 2021.
EPF's remaining top management includes chief investment officer Rohaya Mohammad Yusof, chief operating officer Sazali Zainuddin, chief financial officer Mohamad Hafiz Kassim and chief digital technology officer Muhammad Afhzal Abdul Rahman.