Profile of KH Abdul Hakim, Elected Chairman of PBNU
The 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress at Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java, on Monday (31/8/2026) placed KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz as the highest vote recipient for the position of PBNU chairman. The following is a profile of the caretaker of Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School.
“Members of the Ahlul Halil Wal Aqdi (AHWA) decided by consensus to elect KH Abdul Hakim, commonly known as Gus Kikin, as Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board for the 2026-2031 term of service,” said KH Anwar Iskandar while reading out the plenary session of the 35th NU Congress, Monday (31/8/2026).
Gus Kikin was born on 17 August 1958. He is the son of KH Mahfudz Anwar and Nyai Hj Abidah Ma’shum. Through his family line, he is connected to the ulama and pesantren circles of Jombang. Official sources from Tebuireng Pesantren record that Gus Kikin’s religious education was initially obtained directly from his parents while at Sunan Ampel Islamic Boarding School, Jombang.
He pursued formal education at SMPN Jombang, then SMAN Jombang, before continuing his studies at the Merchant Marine College (STIP) in Jakarta. This educational background helped shape Gus Kikin’s life experience, which is relatively different from the general image of a kiai who from childhood only immersed himself in the pesantren environment.
Through his family line, Gus Kikin also has a genealogical connection with Hadratussyaikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari. His mother, Nyai Hj Abidah Ma’shum, is part of the extended family of Tebuireng ulama. Thus, Gus Kikin’s life from the outset could not be separated from the scholarly tradition that shaped NU’s history.
Before becoming fully known as a pesantren caretaker, Gus Kikin pursued a professional and business career. He once served as head of the Cilegon branch of PT Djakarta Lloyd. He was also involved in commodity trading, including areca nut and essential oils. In business, he co-founded PT Energi Mineral Langgeng, which operates in the oil and gas sector, as well as PT Bama Berita Sarana (BBS Group), a company engaged in networked broadcast media. He was also involved in the management of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
When Gus Sholah was entrusted as caretaker of Tebuireng, Gus Kikin stood by his side as deputy caretaker. After Gus Sholah passed away, the caretaker mandate then continued to Gus Kikin.
In 2024, he was elected by acclamation as Chairman of the East Java Regional Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) for the 2024–2029 term of service. The election took place at the 18th East Java NU Regional Conference in Tebuireng.
On 31 August 2026, Gus Kikin’s name was officially included among the five candidates for PBNU Chairman for the 2026–2031 term of service. The other four names were KH Zulfa Mustofa, KH Abdussalam Sochib, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, and KH Abdul Ghaffar Rozin.
In the selection process, Gus Kikin obtained the highest number of votes and was ranked first. The five names were then submitted to receive the blessing of the elected Rais Aam and deliberated through the AHWA mechanism.