Yahaya Ahmad

Yahaya was born on 11 August 1947 in Marang, Terengganu, Malaysia. He received his education from Malay College Kuala Kangsar in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Yahaya later attended Loughborough University to pursue a degree in automotive engineering. He was married to Puan Sri Rohana Othman on 17 January 1979 and have four children—Yatina, Nadiya, Aman and Faez. They lived in Kelana Jaya, Selangor.

DRB-HICOM chairman

Yahaya dabbled in the automobile world in 1985 during the launch of Malaysia's first national car Proton Saga by then-Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. He was appointed chairman of the DRB-HICOM on 1 January 1994. Through the company, Yahaya managed to capture the national carmaker Proton. In the 1990s the Proton Iswara and Proton Wira was launched. In April 1996, Proton Tiara was launched. Subsequently, in October 1996, Proton and Yahaya took control of British carmaker Lotus in a deal worth £51 million, of which £10 million was funded by Yahaya's personal fortune. Then taken over by the Managing Director Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Salleh with Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff.

In January 1997, two months prior to his death, together with Malaysian finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the acting prime minister, introduced an initiative to reduce traffic congestion around the capital city of Kuala Lumpur through the establishment of Intrakota bus (now RapidKL).

Other roles

Aside from being the DRB-HICOM chairman, Yahaya also appointed as a Chairman of EON Bank on 12 January 1996, succeeding Rin Kei Mei.

He also became the head of the Master Carriage group of companies' boards as well as a board member of Central Terengganu Development Authority and Kemaman Port Authority. Yahaya and his family also owns Mega Consolidated.

Yahaya was also the promoter of Modenas.