The Cathay Pacific Group has named Ronald Lam, current chief customer and commercial officer, as the new chief executive officer of the Hong Kong-based airline starting January next year.

This comes as Augustus Tang, current chief executive officer, was announced to be retiring from the Cathay Pacific Group on December 31, 2022, and assume a new role at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. effective January 1, 2023.

In the announcement, Cathay Pacific said Lam will also continue to serve as chair of HK Express.

Aside from the CEO role, Cathay Pacific Group also announced a number of senior management appointments, effective over the next few months.

It said Lavinia Lau, director of customer travel, will be appointed chief customer and commercial officer to replace Lam, effective January 1.

Greg Hughes, chief operations and service delivery officer since June 2017, will retire from the Swire Group after 36 years of service in 2023.

Alex McGowan, director of service delivery, will be appointed chief operations and service delivery officer and also executive director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective April 1, 2023, upon the retirement of Hughes. ​

McGowan will also be appointed chair of Cathay Pacific's wholly-owned all-cargo airline, Air Hong Kong, replacing Hughes.

Cathay Pacific Group Chair Patrick Healy lauded Tang's leadership of the Cathay Pacific Group and recognised the critical role played he played in the airline's restructuring in 2020 and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"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. That we are now emerging from this prolonged crisis in such great shape, with a more focused, efficient and competitive organisation, is due in very large part to the skill and wisdom of the CEO who has guided us through this period," Healy said as he also congratulated Lam on his appointment as CEO.

"It gives me great pleasure to congratulate [Lam] on his well-deserved appointment to chief executive officer. I have worked very closely with him 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 its path to becoming one of the world’s greatest service brands," Healy further said.

The Cathay Pacific Group chai noted that upon taking the role, 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.

Other appointments made were Erica Peng, currently, the general manager of planning at Cathay Pacific will succeed Lau and be appointed director of Customer travel effective January.

Mandy Ng, currently chief executive officer of the Cathay Pacific Group's wholly owned low-cost carrier HK Express, will return to Cathay Pacific and succeed McGowan as director of service effective April 1.

Jeanette Mao, currently general manager of inflight services at Cathay Pacific, will succeed Ng as HK Express chief executive officer effective April 1, 2023.