malaysia airlinesFaridah Hashim, a Hill+Knowlton Strategies and corporate PR alum, is joining embattled Malaysia Airlines as head of corporate communications.

Hashim, who is slated to join the Kuala Lumpur-based carrier on July 1, led corporate communications for $6B Asian telecom Axiata Group Berhad. She was previously a director and PR consultant for H+K in the UK and started out in journalism.

Malaysia Airlines, controlled by the Malay government, continues to cope with the disappearance of Flight 370 over the Indian Ocean in March 2014, a disaster that was followed in July by the Ukraine crash of Flight 17, believed to be caused by a missile strike.

Ketchum ICON and London-based Perowne Charles Communications have advised Malaysia since the Flight 370 disaster.

The airline in December named Christph Mueller, a German national and head of Ireland's Aer Lingus, as its new CEO amid an overhaul. He announced the hire of Hashim, along with a new sales chief, today, noting the appointments will "provide important input towards shaping our new airline."