Cathay Pacific appoints Ronald Lam as CEO
Augustus Tang to retire on Dec 31, 2022; Lavinia Lau appointed Chief Customer and Commercial Officer.
Ronald Lam, CEO, Cathay Pacific Group w.e.f. January 1, 2023
The Cathay Pacific Group has announced a number of senior management appointments, effective over the next few months.
Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang will retire from the Cathay Pacific Group on December 31, 2022. He will assume a new role at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. effective January 1, 2023, says an official release.
Ronald Lam, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2023. He will continue to serve as Chair of HK Express.
Lavinia Lau, Director, Customer Travel, will be appointed Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, replacing Lam, and will also be appointed Executive Director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective January 1, 2023.
Greg Hughes, Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer since June 2017, will retire from the Swire Group after 36 years of service in 2023, the release added.
Alex McGowan, Director, Service Delivery, will be appointed Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer and also Executive Director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective April 1, 2023 upon Hughes' retirement from the Board. McGowan will also be appointed Chair of Cathay Pacific's wholly owned all-cargo airline Air Hong Kong, replacing Hughes.
"I cannot overstate the degree of admiration and gratitude which I and the entire Board have for Augustus," says Patrick Healy, Chair, Cathay Pacific Group. "His tenure has encompassed the most turbulent period in Cathay Pacific's more than 75-year history. That we are now emerging from this prolonged crisis in such great shape with a more focused, efficient and competitive organisation is due in very large part to the skill and wisdom of the CEO who has guided us through this period. I am immeasurably grateful to him for his unparalleled contribution to the company.
"It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Ronald on his well-deserved appointment to Chief Executive Officer. I have worked very closely with Ronald in recent years, and I have been impressed by his long-term vision for the company, his intellect, and his determination to see the Group succeed. He is without doubt ready to lead our organisation on our path to becoming one of the world's greatest service brands.
"Ronald will lead the airline through its post-Covid recovery and the introduction of the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport as the airline looks to increase its passenger flight capacity and strengthen connectivity at the Hong Kong international aviation hub. The company's dual-brand strategy comprising Cathay Pacific as a premium full-service airline and HK Express as a wholly-owned low-cost carrier have positioned it well to take advantage of the recovery and continue contributing to the long-term success of the Hong Kong hub."
Other appointments to the senior leadership team include:
* Erica Peng, currently General Manager Planning at Cathay Pacific, will succeed Lau and is appointed Director Customer Travel effective January 1, 2023.
* Mandy Ng, currently Chief Executive Officer of the Cathay Pacific Group's wholly- owned low-cost carrier HK Express, will return to Cathay Pacific and succeed McGowan as Director, Service Delivery effective April 1, 2023.
Lam has been Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, Cathay Pacific and Chair of the Group's wholly owned low-cost subsidiary HK Express since August 2019. "He is responsible for all customer, commercial and cargo-related activities of the Group's airlines. Lam joined the Cathay Pacific Group as a Management Trainee in 1996 and has since held a number of senior leadership roles in Hong Kong and overseas including Director Commercial & Cargo at Cathay Pacific, Director and GM Hong Kong Operations at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) and Chief Executive Officer of HK Express."
Cathay Pacific Group incoming Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau
Lau has been Director, Customer Travel, leading the customer travel business line that is accountable for the customer travel experience design as well as the passenger commercial functions for Cathay Pacific since 2021. "Lau joined the Swire Group as a management trainee in 1992 and has since held a number of senior leadership positions at Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong including General Manager Sales, Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong, and General Manager Planning." Lau is Chair of The Board of Airline Representatives in Hong Kong (BAR) and Board member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the release added.
