Former AirAsia X CEO Azran joins Patrick Grove’s iflix

• Served as CEO of AirAsia X from its inception in 2007
• Responsible for overall organisational design, innovation, operations and strategy

CATCHA Group has announced that former AirAsia X Bhd chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani (pic) has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of iflix Malaysia, and chief operating officer of the iflix Group.
 
Azran served as CEO of AirAsia X from its inception in 2007, successfully growing the business to become Asia Pacific’s leading low-cost long-haul airline, with over RM3 billion (nearly US$1 billion) in revenue.
 
Rumours surfaced in January this year that he had quit the CEO position, which Azran first denied.  However, AirAsia X confirmed the cessation of his duties in a filing with Bursa Malaysia a few days later.
 
On Jan 30, the airline announced that Kamarudin Meranun had been appointed group CEO and Benyamin Ismail as acting CEO.
 
Meanwhile, iflix is dotcom pioneer Patrick Grove’s new video-on-demand venture was announced in early March, about a month after Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) unveiled its own Netflix-type service in partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
 
The outspoken Azran is no stranger to the startup and content scene, and featured on a DNA-TeAM Disrupt panel discussion in 2013.
 
Prior to AirAsia X, he led the startup and operational launch of Astro All Asia Networks Plc’s international investments across South-East Asia, India and Greater China with management responsibility over its broadcasting and content investment portfolio, iflix said in a statement.
 
He also serves as commissioner of leading Indonesian mobile telecommunications services operator XL Axiata, and was formerly a director of Tourism Malaysia.
 
He will assume responsibility for driving iflix’s Malaysia business, as well as overall organisational design, innovation, operations and strategy, the company said.
 
“Azran is a proven leader who has an exceptional track record for building businesses from the ground up,” said iflix group CEO Mark Britt.
 
“He is uniquely qualified to drive operational strategy and innovation within iflix. We are extraordinarily excited to have an individual of Azran’s calibre on board to spearhead the growth of the region’s leading Internet TV service,” he added.
 
Azran holds a Master’s degree in Management Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, both from Stanford University.
 
“iflix is a game changer that will transform how South-East Asian consumers access entertainment content,” said Azran.
 
“I look forward to lead the charge towards capitalising on this tremendous disruptive opportunity,” he added.
 
Launching in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam throughout 2015, iflix said it will offer consumers more than 10,000 hours of top US, Asian regional, and local TV shows and movies.
 
Each subscription will allow a user to access the service on five devices, as well as download content to their mobile, tablet, computer, or television set, for viewing anywhere, anytime.
 
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