KUALA LUMPUR: BYD Malaysia has announced that Jacob Ma is its new managing director, in a strategic leadership transition as Eagle Zhao assumes full focus on his role as president director of PT BYD Motor Indonesia.
Ma oversees both the BYD and Denza brands.
The company said during his tenure in Malaysia, Zhao played a pivotal role in establishing BYD’s strong market presence, successfully leading the brand to deliver over 30,000 BYD and Denza vehicles nationwide.
“Malaysia has been an incredibly important chapter in my journey with BYD,” said Zhao.
“Together with our dedicated partners and team, we have built a strong foundation for both BYD and Denza. I am confident that the momentum we have created will continue to propel the brands forward.”
In taking over the helm, Ma brings with him extensive global experience from BYD headquarters in Shenzhen.
Prior to this appointment, Ma served as head of training at BYD HQ for five years and later as vice president of BYD Indonesia for two years, where he was instrumental in developing international market readiness programmes, strengthening retail excellence standards, and leading capability-building initiatives across multiple regions.
Earlier in his career, Jacob also worked as a consultant and gained experience in the aviation industry, where he was involved in technology transfer initiatives, providing him with a strong foundation in cross-industry collaboration and operational transformation.
"I am honoured to take on this responsibility at such an exciting time for BYD Malaysia,” said Ma.
“Malaysia remains a strategic market for the group, and we are committed to delivering innovative products and comprehensive ownership experiences to our customers. Our focus will be on reinforcing operational excellence, elevating customer experience, and ensuring sustainable growth for both BYD and Denza.”
Ma oversees overall business strategy, sales, marketing, network development, and aftersales operations for both brands.
He wants to focus on strengthening dealer partnerships, expanding the product portfolio, and enhancing brand differentiation between BYD and Denza to drive long-term market competitiveness.
