The departure of two senior executives at Cathay Pacific could spark a reshuffle of key talent as Hong Kong’s flagship carrier prepares to usher in a new generation of leaders faced with the challenge of guiding the company’s return to profitability. Simon Large, one of the airline’s directors who oversaw all customer-related activities, has resigned and will return to Britain, while Philippe Lacamp has stepped down as chief risk officer after little more than eight months in the role, the Post has learned. The departures come ahead of Cathay’s traditional rotation of top executives, which usually takes place every three to four years, that will decide the successor of chief executive Augustus Tang Kin-wing. The sole person being considered was chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam Siu-por, who already had an influential say in running the company, an insider familiar with the plans said. All that remained to be decided was when he would take over. Tang’s other deputy, chief operations and service delivery officer Greg Hughes, was awarded a one-year contract extension until June 2022, at which point he is expected to retire, the source said. Among the potential candidates to succeed him were senior Swire executives Tom Owen, Alex McGowan, Neil Glenn and James Ginns.<br/>
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Qantas international pilots have revealed the significant toll extended periods without flying is taking on their mental health while other parts of the airline group expands domestic services. The anguish facing long-haul pilots who have been stood down has been aired internally on the airline’s online communication system Yammer, in response to Qantas executive John Gissing last month seeking to “start a conversation” about Men’s Health Week. In their comments, the pilots laid bare the impact a “seemingly endless stand-down” is having on their lives, warning that the “worry that breeds from uncertainty is palpable”. One pilot, who was close to 500 days without flying, said he rarely slept through the night, and was usually awake between 2am and 4am. He warned the mental effects will be significant, and international crew felt abandoned as other parts of Qantas expanded while they faced a “seemingly endless” period of stand-down. Qantas has added 45 routes to its domestic network since the start of the pandemic as the airline group seeks to gain market share vacated by its trimmed-down rival Virgin Australia. But most of Qantas’s international flying has been halted due to the government’s COVID-19 restrictions.<br/>