Paul Loo will become Director Corporate Development and will be responsible for the development of Cathay Pacific’s networks and long-term strategic direction. Mr Loo joined Cathay Pacific in 1991 and has held a number of senior positions in the airline. He is currently General Manager China, looking after the business and operations of Cathay Pacific in Mainland China. He replaces James Barrington who will become Group Director Airframe Services at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd (HAECO) in the Swire Pacific group of companies.

Simon Large has been appointed as Director Cargo and will be responsible for all aspects of the group’s cargo business worldwide, including operations, marketing and sales. Mr Large is currently the airline’s General Manager Marketing, Loyalty Programmes & CRM. He joined the Swire group in 1991 and has worked in a variety of management positions within Cathay Pacific, as well as postings at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals and tea grower/importer Finlays, part of the Swire group. Mr Large takes over in the cargo role from James Woodrow, who will become Managing Director at The China Navigation Company Pte Ltd (CNCo).

Tom Owen will take up the position of Director People, responsible for all people strategy and human resource issues at the airline. Mr Owen joined Cathay Pacific in 1995 from the British Army. He has subsequently held a number of senior positions within the airline in both Hong Kong and overseas, and from 2011 to 2012 worked for the Swire group’s Steamships Trading Company Ltd in Papua New Guinea. He is currently Senior Vice President responsible for Cathay Pacific’s business in the Americas. Mr Owen takes over as Director People from Nick Rhodes, who will become the Staff Director of John Swire & Sons, Hong Kong.

Commenting on the appointments, Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “We are very pleased to announce the appointment of these three new directors, all of whom have a deep understanding of the business and operations of Cathay Pacific along with considerable management expertise that will add both strength and depth to our leadership team. I would also like to thank all three departing directors who have each made a huge contribution to Cathay Pacific over the years.”