Cathay Pacific group recently announced major changes to its senior management, effective over the next few months. Augustus Tang will retire from the position of Chief Executive Officer to join a new role at John Swire & Sons (H.K.). Accordingly, Ronald Lam, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer effective 1 January 2023. He will continue to serve as Chair of HK Express.
Lam joined the Cathay Pacific Group as a management trainee in 1996 and has since held several senior leadership roles in Hong Kong and overseas including Director of Commercial & Cargo at Cathay Pacific, Director and GM of Hong Kong Operations at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) and Chief Executive Officer of HK Express.
Patrick Healy, Chairman, Cathay Group, said: “I cannot overstate the degree of admiration and gratitude which I and the entire Board have for Augustus. 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 organization, 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.”
Congratulating Lam, Healy said: “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 a doubt ready to lead our organization on our path to becoming one of the world’s greatest service brands.
Lavinia Lau the Director of Customer Travel will be promoted to Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, replacing Lam, and will also be appointed Executive Director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective January, 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 while Alex McGowan, Director of Service Delivery, will be appointed Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer and Executive Director of the Board of Cathay Pacific effective 1 April 2023 upon. Hughes’ retirement from the Board.