Cathay Pacific chairman John Slosar will step down from the role on November 6, according to the airline.
Slosar is relinquishing the role due to retirement, although the timing is suspect with the airline reshuffling its management team recently following heavy criticism from China over its actions during the current period of civil unrest in Hong Kong.
Slosar will be succeeded by Patrick Healy from the Swire Group conglomerate which is currently Cathay Pacific’s majority shareholder.
Slosar's departure follows the exit of its chief executive Rupert Hogg who resigned following the protests in Hong Kong.
Following Hogg, Paul Loo left his position as chief customer and commercial officer.
In mid-August with protests spilling over into Hong Kong's airport, Cathay Pacific issued a warning to staff they could be fired if they “support or participate in illegal protests” in Hong Kong, as pressure from Beijing intensified.
Subsequently, a number of employees were fired over involvement which began earlier this year in opposition to a bill allowing authorities to extradite locals to mainland China.
In late August, Cathay Pacific issued a statement in the wake of the Civil Aviation Administration of China banning any Cathay staff linked to anti-government protests from operating flights into the mainland and over its airspace.
In response to media enquiries regarding the assembly and petition by the Confederation of Trade Unions, Cathay Pacific director corporate affairs James Tong said: “As a global airline and a commercial organisation, Cathay Pacific is duty-bound to comply with all applicable regulatory requirements in the jurisdictions where it operates. Full compliance with all regulations is a pre-requisite for the airline’s continued operations, and we are obliged to adhere to them.
“Earlier this month, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a directive with regards to new safety and security measures with which we are required to fully comply.
“We fully support the upholding of the Basic Law and all the rights and freedoms afforded by it. At the same time, we are also required to adhere to all of our regulatory duties, including those prescribed by the authorities in mainland China. The airline must do this; there is no ground for compromise.”
During its last financial results, Cathay Pacific Group warned that the protests in Hong Kong which saw many flights cancelled will harm its results.