KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Media Prima Bhd announced today that Tan Sri Ismee Ismail has resigned as its independent, non-executive group chairman "to focus on other commitments".

"Tan Sri Ismee had earlier informed the board of Media Prima of his intention to step down from his current position and resign from the board," the group said in a statement.

In accepting Ismee's request for resignation, Media Prima said its board "expressed its deepest appreciation and gratitude for his leadership and contributions to Media Prima since he joined on June 1, 2017".

Besides chairing Media Prima, Ismee had also served as chairman of the group's risk management committee.

Previously, Ismee had served as the group managing director and chief executive officer of Lembaga Tabung Haji from 2006 to 2016.

Following Ismee's departure, Media Prima said its independent, non-executive director Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad will temporarily chair the media conglomerate, which owns and operates free-to-air television channels such as TV3, ntv7, 8TV and TV9.

"Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad is appointed as interim group chairman with effect from May 21," Media Prima said in a bourse filing.

Last week, the group announced the resignation of Datuk Seri Ashraf Abdullah as group managing editor for news and current affairs of television networks.