Copyright © 2024 Swire Pacific Limited. All rights reserved.
05 May 2004
Cathay Pacific Announces Succession Plans

Mr. James Hughes-Hallett, Chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., will be leaving Hong Kong at the end of the year to take up a new role in London as Chairman of John Swire & Sons Ltd.

Subject to the Board's approval, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive David Turnbull will succeed Mr. Hughes-Hallett to become Chairman of the airline. Director and Chief Operating Officer Philip Chen will succeed Mr. Turnbull to become Chief Executive. Director Corporate Development Tony Tyler will succeed Mr. Chen to become Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Turnbull, born in 1955, has been a director of the company since January 1994. He was appointed Managing Director in December 1996 and has been Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive since July 1998. He is also currently Chairman of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd., and a director of Swire Pacific Ltd. and John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. He joined the Swire group in 1976.

Mr. Chen, born in 1955, has been a director and Chief Operating Officer of the airline since July 1998. He joined the Swire group in 1977.

Mr. Tyler, born in 1955, joined the Swire group in 1977. He was appointed to the position of Director Corporate Development in November 1996.

David M Turnbull
Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive
Cathay Pacific Airways

David Turnbull as Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive is responsible for the worldwide operations of Cathay Pacific. He is also Chairman of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), Director of Swire Pacific Limited, and Director of John Swire & Sons (HK) Limited.

Mr Turnbull was born in the United Kingdom in 1955, and graduated from Cambridge University with a degree with Hons in Economics in 1976. He joined the Swire Group the same year and over the following 27 years he has since held a variety of posts within the organisation.

Between 1976 and 1982 he worked for Cathay Pacific as Country Manager Dubai, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In 1983 he moved to the company's Hong Kong headquarters to become Manager International Affairs.

In 1985, Mr Turnbull was appointed Commercial Director of Swire Group Australia and Managing Director of New Guinea Australia Line (NGAL) Shipping Line and based in Sydney.

Mr Turnbull was appointed Managing Director of HAECO in 1990, and in 1993 became Deputy Managing Director Corporate Development for Cathay Pacific.

In 1995, Mr Turnbull became Chairman of HAECO, and in 1996 was appointed Managing Director of Cathay Pacific, Director of Swire Pacific and Director of John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd.

Mr Turnbull has been Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific since July 1998.

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Philip N L Chen
Director & Chief Operating Officer
Cathay Pacific Airways

Philip Chen first joined the company in 1977. Prior to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in July 1998, he was Deputy Managing Director from April 1997.

Mr Chen is also a Director of John Swire & Sons (Hong Kong) Limited and John Swire & Sons (China) Limited.

He was the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines from 1994 to 1997 and before that was Cathay Pacific Regional General Manager Southeast Asia from 1992 to 1994. From 1989 to 1992, he was based in Beijing as the Chief Representative & General Manager of Swire China.

Mr Chen was born in 1955 and graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1977 with a degree in Political Science & History BA (Hon).

In 2000, the Hong Kong Government appointed Mr Chen a Justice of Peace (JP) and he was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in July 2002.

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Antony N Tyler
Director Corporate Development
Cathay Pacific Airways

Tony Tyler joined John Swire and Sons in 1977 and moved to Cathay Pacific in 1978. He has worked for the airline in Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, Japan, Italy and London.

Mr Tyler was appointed to the position of Director Corporate Development in November 1996. His primary responsibility is the strategic development of the airline's network. He is also responsible at Board level for property, purchasing, personnel and alliances.

Mr Tyler is also a director of Dragonair and Chairman of Air Hong Kong; he is a director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd. Prior to his current position he was Director Service Delivery, with responsibility for the service offered by the airline worldwide, in the air and on the ground.

Mr Tyler was born in 1955 and is a graduate of Oxford University.

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Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department