Wong Chun Wai will relinquish his positions as Star Media Group managing director and CEO on Jan 1, one year ahead of the expiry of his contract.

According to the group's filing to Bursa Malaysia, Wong will also give up his directorship in all of SMG subsidiaries.

He will now serve as the group's advisor on editorial and corporate relation matters.

"I am deeply thankful that I was given the opportunity to serve as MD/CEO for six years. That's a pretty long time in Malaysian corporate life and more so in a most challenging business like the media.

"The role of a CEO in a Malaysian media company is certainly very different from that of my counterparts in other companies, which is much more straightforward," he said.

"Transformation has taken place, and we are completely into the digital era, where we are digital first.

"But I will leave my trusted colleagues, whom I'm sure will do a better job, to deal with the changing times.

"It's not the end of an era for me. I just want to return to my passion – journalism and writing, said Wong.

Wong, 57, has been part of The Star newspaper since 1984. The group has yet to name his successor.