KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Christoph Mueller, the man appointed just last year to head the turnaround of Malaysia’s ailing flag carrier, will step down this September as Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) chief executive officer, ahead of the expiry of his three-year contract.

A statement by MAB confirmed Mueller’s plan for an early departure, and that the German aviation veteran explained that this was due to personal matters.

In the statement, Mueller said he was proud of MAB’s achievements so far in the few months under his leadership, adding that work has already begun to show signs of success.

“I am confident that the company is now on the right track to succeed in its next phase of growth under a new CEO.

“I remain fully committed to do everything possible to facilitate the continuing turnaround of Malaysia Airlines,” he said.

MAB said Mueller, who succeeded Ahmad Jauhari Yahya as managing director and Malaysia Airlines CEO on May 1 last year, will continue to serve as CEO until this September.

Following this, it said Mueller has expressed his intention to remain with the airline as its non-executive director, while relinquishing the post of CEO.

MAB expressed disappointment at Mueller’s early exit but said it respects his reasons for leaving.

“His hard work over the past year has seen Malaysia Airlines set on a path where there has already been encouraging progress,” MAB chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof said.

“There are other significant strategic decisions already in the pipeline which Christoph has made preparations for and will manage through.”

MAB added that it has begun its search for a new CEO and that this will include looking at both internal and external potential candidates.

In a separate statement, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, MAB’s sole shareholder, acknowledged Mueller’s quit plan and thanked him for his contributions to the five-year MAS Recovery Plan (MRP).

“Much has been achieved over this period and Mr. Mueller has contributed significantly to its progress to date.

“He has also helped to lay the foundations for a sustained turnaround and in that regard, Khazanah will continue to support and drive the recovery further in the remaining 40 months of the MRP,” said Khazanah.

Khazanah added that it would, in consultation with the MAB board and the government, undertake the succession planning for the new MAB CEO.

In an interview with international newswire Associated Press (AP) earlier this month, Mueller said Malaysia Airlines recorded a profit in February, its first positive monthly result in years, adding that the national carrier was on track to going back to the black by 2018.

Mueller, who previously turned around Ireland’s Aer Lingus, had cut 6,000 jobs and axed unprofitable routes in Malaysia Airlines that has been making losses even before two plane crashes in 2014.

Mueller told AP that he has reduced the number of suppliers from more than 20,000 to about 4,900 to save costs, with the aim of cutting it down to 2,000.

He also reportedly said he is creating a more open working environment, in which bureaucracy and hierarchies are slowly being cut.