JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - Elia Massa Manik, currently President Director of plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara III, has been appointed as new President Director of Pertamina, replacing Dwi Sutjipto, who has been dismissed at end January.
The appointment of Elia Manik has been approved by the shareholder (government) during the company’s shareholder meeting on Thursday (Mar 16).
Elia has a long carrier path, working in a number of major companies, both private and state owned, with variety of industries, such as food, plantation, oil and gas services.
Elia began his carrier at PT Indofood Sukses Makmur and then joined Suez Group before joining PT Kiani Kertas (2001) and later PT Jababeka, an industrial zone operator in West Java.
Prior to become President Director of PTPN III in 2016, Elia held position as Chief Executive Officer of state owned paper company PT Kertas Basuki Rachmat Indonesia, and President Director of PT Elnusa, an oil and gas service company, partly (41%) owned by Pertamina in the period of July 2011-2014.
Elia was successful in the turnaround of Elnusa from negative cashflow of Rp200 billion into a profitable company through refinancing program and other corporate improvement activities. Elnusa was facing financial crisis after its deposits in Bank Mega amounting to Rp161 billion went out in smoke after recalcitrant people, involving former executives of Elnusa and Bank Mega withdrew the deposits by forging documents.
The shareholders then appointed Elia to rescue Elnusa. Elia, in an interview with local papers, described Elnusa at that time was like a sinking ship.
Following the dismissal of Dwi Soetjipto, the SOE Minister Rini Soemarno appointed Yenni Andayani as acting president director of Pertamina. (*)