Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Rupert Hogg has resigned, according to reports in China and the airline’s board has accepted his resignation.
Paul Loo, the chief customer and commercial officer of Cathay who was one of Hogg’s deputies, has also stepped down.
Augustus Tang Kin-wing, 60, CEO of maintenance and engineering company Haeco, has been appointed as the new leader of the airline. HK Express CEO Ronald Lam has been made the new chief customer and commercial officer. He also continues his role for now at HK Express.
After months of anti-Beijing demonstrations in Hong Kong, Cathay is reportedly struggling to work a path between the demands of the mainland and employees sympathetic to the uprising.
Local media reports claim Cathay has been embroiled in a series controversies over the involvement of its employees in the city’s simmering anti-government protests. Government officials are reportedly unhappy that the airline has not reined staff in from taking part in the protests.
Local reports claim both men resigned to “take responsibility as a leader of the company in view of recent events”.
Hogg became CEO of Cathay Pacific on 1 May 2017. He is also chairman of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited and AHK Air Hong Kong Limited and a director of John Swire & Sons (HK) Limited and Air China Cargo Company Limited.