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John Slosar retires from Cathay Pacific
September 6th 2019
Swire executive Patrick Healy takes the reins from November. Read More »
Cathay Pacific is going through a complete transformation at senior executive level. Chairman John Slosar’s retirement on November 6, announced last Tuesday, makes him the third top level executive in three weeks to be announced as departing the airline, adding to the resignations of CEO, Rupert Hogg, and chief customer and commercial officer, Paul Loo.
Incoming chairman is Mandarin speaker Patrick Healy, a Swire executive who has never worked at Cathay. He has spent 18 years with the Swire group in mainland China, 14 at the Swire Coca-Cola Co. and four at TAECO Xiamen.
Healy is likely to oversee a management transition at Cathay as new CEO, Augustus Tang, is not seen as a long-term appointment. Tang had been due to retire before being tapped to lead Cathay from August 19.
Slosar retired as Swire Pacific Ltd chairman in mid-year, but retained his position as chairman of the airline. He was succeeded by family scion, Merlin Bingham Swire. Slosar moved from running HAECO to Cathay COO in 2007. He oversaw the design and introduction of the airline’s new business class, and later brought Dragonair closer to Cathay Pacific, culminating in a name change to Cathay Dragon while Slosar was chairman.
Slosar was unique amongst his recent chief executive contemporaries for remaining chairman of Cathay after his resignation as chairman of the airline’s parent. When Tony Tyler unexpectedly resigned from Cathay to become director general of the International Air Transport Association in 2011, Slosar succeeded him as CEO. After Chris Pratt retired as Swire Pacific chairman on 2014, Slosar got the conglomerate’s top job and Ivan Chu was chosen as Cathay’s CEO. Chu moved back to the parent company to manage its Mainland interests in 2017 and Rupert Hogg was named Cathay’s CEO.
