Dato' Ismail Bin Karim served Johor Civil Service for over 35 years prior to his retirement as State Secretary of Johor. Currently, he serves as Members of Royal Committee Johor amongst other position as Director of Dialog Group Berhad, Director of Paragon Globe Berhad, Director of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Trustees of Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation, and Director of Johor Darul Tazim Foundation Sdn Bhd. Dato Ismail also appointed as President of the Johor State Football Association and Treasurer of Football Association of Malaysia.

He started his career as an Assistant Land Revenue Collector at the Johor Bahru Land Office in 1982 and was promoted to several positions in the land offices in Johor until 1992. He went on to take up senior positions in the Segamat District Office, Johor Bahru City Council, Johor State Economic Planning Unit, Johor Bahru District Office, Johor State Secretary Office and Johor State Islamic Religious Department before taking on the role of Yang DiPertua (Head) of Kulai Municipal Council in 2006. Dato' Ismail became the District Officer of Kota Tinggi in 2009 and was later promoted as Mayor of Johor Bahru in 2013 and Johor State Secretary in 2014.

1. Dialog Group Berhad
2. Paragon Globe Berhad

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