Cathay Pacific names Philippe de Gentile-Williams Director of Service Delivery

The airline also made other key appointments within itself and its subsidiaries apart from de Gentile-Williams’.

Cathay Pacific Airways on Thursday announced a number of new appointments among its senior management team together with new faces in key positions within the airline’s subsidiaries.

The most senior move within the airline itself is the appointment of Philippe de Gentile-Williams as the new Director Service Delivery, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the airline’s service both on the ground and in the air. He will take up the position on 4 July 2011. The previous incumbent in the role was Ivan Chu, who became Chief Operating Officer on 31 March this year.

Mr de Gentile-Williams is currently Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Catering Services (HK) Limited (CPCS), one of the world’s largest inflight kitchens and a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific. He joined John Swire & Sons in 1988 as part of the group’s Trading Division, working in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines from 1988 to 1997. He moved to Cathay Pacific in 1997 and has held positions with the airline in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong. 

Mr de Gentile-Williams’ appointment is one of a number of senior management moves in Cathay Pacific including various changes at General Manager level. Among the new appointments are Adrian Harley, who moves from General Manager Taiwan & Korea to become General Manager Airports, and Paul Loo, currently General Manager Cathay Pacific Loyalty Programmes, who will become General Manager HKIA, overseeing the airline’s operation at Hong Kong International Airport, according to a Cathay Pacific report.

Meanwhile, in the airline’s subsidiaries, Algernon Yau, the current General Manager HKIA, will become Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Services Limited, the company that will operate the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal that is being built at Hong Kong International Airport. Anna Thompson, currently General Manager Southeast Asia, will become Chief Operating Officer of Air Hong Kong, the regional all-cargo carrier 60% owned by Cathay Pacific.

At CPCS, Jenny Lam, currently the caterer’s General Manager, will take over from Mr de Gentile-Williams as Chief Executive Officer.