since 1976
since 1976
BYD Malaysia today announced a strategic leadership transition as Eagle Zhao assumes full focus on his role as President Director of PT BYD Motor Indonesia. Succeeding him in Malaysia is Jacob Ma, who has been appointed as the new Managing Director of BYD Malaysia, overseeing both the BYD and DENZA brands.
This transition reflects BYD’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership bench across the region while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a key growth market in Southeast Asia. During his tenure in Malaysia, Eagle 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. Under his leadership, BYD Malaysia expanded its nationwide dealer network, strengthened aftersales capabilities, and accelerated the adoption of new energy vehicles, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing EV brands in the country.
“Malaysia has been an incredibly important chapter in my journey with BYD,” said Eagle 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.”
Taking over the helm, Jacob Ma brings with him extensive global experience from BYD headquarters in Shenzhen. Prior to this appointment, Jacob 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. His experience in talent development and organisational alignment positions him well to lead BYD Malaysia into its next phase of growth.
“I am honoured to take on this responsibility at such an exciting time for BYD Malaysia,” said Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia. “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.”
As Managing Director, Jacob will oversee overall business strategy, sales, marketing, network development, and aftersales operations for both brands. His leadership will focus on strengthening dealer partnerships, expanding the product portfolio, and enhancing brand differentiation between BYD and DENZA to drive long-term market competitiveness.
With this leadership transition, BYD Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to advancing electric mobility in the country while continuing to build a future-ready ecosystem that supports Malaysia’s green mobility ambitions.
