Management changes in Cathay bared
MANILA, Philippines - Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. recently announced that its current chief executive, John Slosar, will succeed Christopher Pratt as chairman of the airline company in March 2014.
He will also take over as chairman of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., Swire Pacific Ltd., Swire Properties Ltd., and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.
Pratt, who has been with the Swire group since 1978, will have been chairman of the group in Hong Kong and chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. for eight years on his retirement.
Slosar, who joined the Swire group in 1980, was appointed managing director of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co Ltd. in 1996, managing director of Swire Beverages Ltd. in 1998, and chief operating officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in 2007.
He then became chief executive in 2011, and is currently also the chairman of Swire Beverages Ltd. and of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. He holds degrees from both Columbia University and Cambridge University.
Meanwhile, Ivan Chu, currently the airline’s chief operating officer, will be appointed chief executive when Slosar takes up the chairman role.
Joining Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in 1984, Chu has worked with the company in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia and is also chairman of AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd.
He holds a Master’s degree in Commerce from the University of New South Wales in Australia and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of Hong Kong.
