A senior management shake-up at Cathay Pacific Group will see chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam step up to take the helm.
He will succeed current chief executive Augustus Tang who is to retire at the end of the year after steering the Hong Kong airline organisation through the pandemic to assume a new role at associated company John Swire & Sons.
A series of other changes include customer travel director Lavinia Lau stepping up to replace Lam.
Chief operations and service delivery officer Greg Hughes will retire in 2023 to be succeeded by current service delivery director Alex McGowan.
Cathay Pacific chair Patrick Healy 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 organisation, is due in very large part to the skill and wisdom of the CEO who has guided us through this period.”
Healy added: “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.“