Cathay Pacific names Ronald Lam as new CEO

Cathay Pacific has named Ronald Lam (pictured) as the company’s new chief executive officer effective 1 January 2023, succeeding Augustus Tang, who will assume a new role at John Swire & Sons (H.K).

Lam has been Cathay Pacific chief customer and commercial officer and chair of the company’s wholly owned low-cost subsidiary, HK Express since August 2019. He is responsible for all customer, commercial and cargo-related activities of the company’s airlines.

Lam joined the Cathay Pacific Group as a management trainee in 1996 and has since held a number of senior leadership roles in Hong Kong and overseas including director commercial and cargo at Cathay Pacific, director and GM of Hong Kong operations at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) and CEO of HK Express.

Lam 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, according to Cathay Pacific Group chair Patrick Healy.

Healy said: “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Lam on his well-deserved appointment to CEO. I have worked very closely with Lam 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.”

“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,” Healy added.

Furthermore, the company has also appointed Jeanette Mao, currently GM of inflight services at Cathay Pacific, as HK Express CEO effective 1 April 2023. On the other hand, Lavinia Lau, director of customer travel at Cathay will be appointed chief customer and commercial officer, as well as executive director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective 1 January 2023.

Healy also paid tribute to Tang’s leadership of the Cathay Pacific Group, “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. I am immeasurably grateful to him for his unparalleled contribution to the company.”

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