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Cathay announces senior leadership appointments

Cathay announces senior leadership appointments

Cathay announces the following senior leadership appointments, effective 1 August 2021.

Lavinia Lau will become Director Customer Travel, leading the Customer Travel business line that will be accountable for the customer travel experience design, as well as the passenger commercial functions that she has already been looking after.

Lavinia has been the Director Commercial for the past two years, responsible for the passenger functions of Revenue Management and Sales and Distribution, together with Planning for both the passenger and freighter fleets. She joined Cathay Pacific in 1999 and has held various senior management positions within the commercial functions over the years.

Paul Smitton will assume the role of Director Customer Lifestyle, leading the newly created Customer Lifestyle business line. Paul’s portfolio will be accountable for helping Cathay to also become a premium lifestyle brand, including setting strategic direction and executing the company’s travel lifestyle initiatives, achieving its customer lifestyle-related financial ambitions, and growing customer relationships.

Paul has worked in loyalty for over 20 years in different parts of the world. He joined the Cathay Pacific Group as Asia Miles CEO in 2018, before becoming General Manager Customer Relationship and Retail in 2020.

Lawrence Fong will continue to lead the company’s IT and digital functions as Director Digital and IT. Lawrence’s portfolio will collaborate with all departments across the company to drive its digital leadership strategy and elevate its focus on its digital and IT transformation.

Currently, Lawrence is Group General Manager, Digital & Information Technology and is responsible for the Group’s digital transformation programmes. He joined Cathay Pacific in 1990 and has held multiple managerial positions in IT and e-Business across the company.

Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang said: “As we look forward to the recovery, the new appointments will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our vision for the Cathay Pacific Group to become one of the world’s greatest service brands.”