UTP Names Mohamed Firouz Asnan As Inaugural President

SERI ISKANDAR, May 1 -- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) has appointed Ir Mohamed Firouz Asnan, Fellow of Academy of Sciences (FASc) as its inaugural President, effective today.

UTP in a statement today said the appointment, marking a strategic milestone in the university’s realignment, is an initiative to become a truly world-class institution.

UTP stated Mohamed Firouz has been serving as UTP's  Director of Transformation since July last year where he led the development of a comprehensive programme to reposition the university in line with evolving stakeholder expectations.

"With over 35 years of experience in the energy sector and six years on the UTP Board, he brings critical combination of strategic management and hands-on execution.

"As Senior Vice President of Malaysia Petroleum Management Petronas, Firouz played a key role in revitalising Malaysia's upstream sector, collaborating not only with petroleum arrangement contractors but also with the academia to unlock the full potential of the industry amidst the Energy Transition.  

"He also led the creation of Petronas New Energy Business as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, as part of efforts to future-proof the organisation," according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the UTP Board Farehana Hanapiah said Firouz will focus on driving strategies to achieve UTP’s vision, mission, and long-term goals. 

She said UTP has made significant strides in research and gained recognition, Mohamed Firouz is expected to realign the research focus on addressing key global challenges that create a better future. 

"This includes deepening collaborations with partner institutions and industry players to transform the industries and societies. He will also lead initiatives to diversify the university’s funding sources, ensuring greater financial sustainability to support our mission," she added.

Farehana said Mohamed Firouz will also work with a newly appointed Provost, selected through a comprehensive search, to enhance teaching and learning until the appointment is finalised, Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Ir Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib will serve as the Interim Provost.

Mohamed Firouz is a registered professional engineer, a member of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia and holds a Bachelor of in Civil Engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette), as well as an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a Sloan Fellow. 

He is also the immediate past president of the MIT Club of Malaysia, recently been elected as a Fellow of Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA