KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Malaysia's IHH Healthcare, Asia's largest hospital operator, on Monday named Dr Tan See Leng as its new chief executive and managing director.

Dr Tan, who will replace Mr Lim Cheok Peng, will add the position to his current role as group CEO of IHH's largest operating subsidiary Parkway Pantai.

"My focus will be on cementing IHH's position as a leader in health-care services in all of our markets," Dr Tan said in a statement. His term will start on Jan 1 next year.

Mr Lim is designated as a senior adviser to the board and is also expected to be an adviser to IHH's major shareholder Khazanah Nasional, the statement said.

"It has been over a year since the group was listed on the Bursa and SGX-ST, and this marks a natural point for me to hand over the reins to (Dr) Tan, who as the next generation of leadership, is eminently qualified to take the group into its next phase," Mr Lim said.