Slosar will step down as chief executive early next year

Cathay Pacific Airways has revealed its current chief executive, John Slosar, will succeed Christopher Pratt as chairman of the airline in March 2014.

Slosar will also take over as chairman of John Swire & Sons and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering.

Pratt joined the Swire group in 1978 and will have been chairman of the group in Hong Kong, and chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways, for eight years on his retirement.

The board of Cathay Pacific Airways thanked Pratt for his long and distinguished service and wishes him well for the future in a statement released earlier.

Ivan Chu, currently the airline’s chief operating officer, will take over as chief executive when Slosar takes up the chairman role.

Slosar, aged 57, joined the Swire group in 1980.

He was appointed managing director of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering in 1996, managing director of Swire Beverages in 1998 and chief operating officer of Cathay Pacific Airways in 2007.

He became chief executive in 2011 and is also chairman of Swire Beverages and of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines.

Slosar has degrees from both Columbia University and Cambridge University.

Chu, aged 51, joined Cathay Pacific Airways 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.