OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2013. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. announced that its current Chief Executive, John Slosar, will succeed Christopher Pratt as Chairman of the airline in March 2014. Mr Slosar will also take over as Chairman of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd, Swire Pacific Ltd, Swire Properties Ltd and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.

Mr Pratt joined the Swire group in 1978 and will have been Chairman of the group in Hong Kong, and Chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., for eight years on his retirement. The board of Cathay Pacific Airways thanks Mr Pratt for his long and distinguished service and wishes him well for the future.

Ivan Chu, currently the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, will take over as Chief Executive when Mr Slosar takes up the Chairman role.

Mr Slosar, aged 57, joined the Swire group in 1980. He was appointed Managing Director of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co Ltd in 1996, Managing Director of Swire Beverages Ltd. in 1998 and Chief Operating Officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in 2007. He became Chief Executive in 2011 and is also Chairman of Swire Beverages Ltd. and of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. Mr Slosar has degrees from both Columbia University and Cambridge University.

Mr Chu, aged 51, joined Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in 1984 and has worked with the company in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia.  He is also Chairman of AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd.

Mr Chu holds a Master degree in Commerce from the University of New South Wales in Australia and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of Hong Kong.