Cathay Pacific chiefs quit amid protests row
Two Cathay Pacific chiefs have resigned in the wake of the Hong Kong protests.
CEO Rupert Hogg and Paul Loo, chief customer and commercial officer, have both stepped down.
The airline has been caught up in a political row amid ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations.
Hogg warned earlier this week that Cathay staff could be fired if they ‘support or participate in’ the protests.
But the week before Cathay Pacific had told its staff it would not stop them taking part.
Hundreds of Cathay flights were cancelled when protesters stormed Hong Kong airport.
In a statement today, the airline’s chairman John Slosar said ‘recent events’ have called into question Cathay Pacific’s commitment to flight safety and security and has ‘put our reputation and brand under pressure’.
"This is regrettable as we have always made safety and security our highest priority. We therefore think it is time to put a new management team in place who can reset confidence and lead the airline to new heights," he said.
Augustus Tang has been appointed CEO and Ronald Lam has been appointed chief customer and commercial officer.
Lam will remain CEO of Hong Kong Express until a successor has been appointed.
Hogg said: "It has been my honour to lead the Cathay Pacific Group over the last three years. I am confident in the future of Hong Kong as the key aviation hub in Asia. However, these have been challenging weeks for the airline and it is right that Paul and I take responsibility as leaders of the company."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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