Cathay Pacific chairman John Slosar will retire at the conclusion of the next board meeting on 6 November 2019, becoming the latest senior management casualty at the Hong Kong airline.
The airline’s board of directors has appointed Patrick Healy to succeed Slosar. Healy joined the Swire Group in 1988 and is currently managing director of Swire Coca-Cola Limited.
The carrier has been beset with issues since last month amid anti-government protests in Hong Kong, which reportedly featured a number of its employees. China criticised the carrier for not dealing with those involved in protests.
Swire Pacific chairman, Merlin Swire said: “I would like to thank John for his tremendous contributions to the company over the past 39 years.
“Under his leadership as the Chief Executive Officer and then as Chairman, Cathay has built on its already enviable reputation for quality service and the extensive global network which underpins the success of Hong Kong as Asia’s largest international passenger hub.
“The three-year transformation programme now nearing completion leaves Cathay well-positioned for continued growth in the future.”
Healy said: “I look forward to working closely with CEO Augustus Tang, my long-term Swire colleague, his talented team and the entire Board of Directors.
“Together, and with the support of the Cathay team, we will ensure that our airlines focus relentlessly on safety, on enhancing the travel experiences of our customers, on being efficient in everything that we do, and on competing effectively to create positive business performance.
“Cathay Pacific has been Hong Kong’s home carrier for over seven decades. Despite current challenges, I am confident in the future of Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific will remain fully committed to this great city as Asia’s key aviation hub.”
