DragonAir appoints Patrick Yeung as CEO

Yeung previously managed the operations of both Dragonair and Cathay Pacific in China.

Dragonair announced on Monday the appointment of Patrick Yeung as the airline’s next Chief Executive Officer. Mr Yeung will take up the post on 16 August, succeeding James Tong in the role.

Mr Yeung is currently Director, General Manager & Chief Representative of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited, overseeing the group’s development and investment strategies in Mainland China, but has considerable experience in aviation having worked with the Cathay Pacific Group for a number of years.

Mr Yeung said he was excited about taking up the CEO post and being part of the aviation world again, according to a Dragonair report.

“Dragonair is a successful local carrier that has won a lot of recognition in Hong Kong and around the region. The Dragonair team has never forsaken its people-oriented culture and customer-minded approach to service and has soared to new heights in recent years,” Mr Yeung said.

“Without such dedicated and exemplary team members it would not have been possible for Dragonair to be recognised as ‘World’s Best Regional Airline’ by Skytrax for the past two years. I am confident that, with the strong foundation already laid, Dragonair will continue to be a strong performer within the Cathay Pacific Group, and I look forward to leading the airline in achieving its long-term goals.” 

Mr Yeung joined the Swire group in 1980 and has held numerous managerial positions within Swire Shipping and the Cathay Pacific Group. During his time with Cathay Pacific, Mr Yeung had a number of key overseas roles including in the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. He also served as Managing Director of Cathay Holidays Limited from 1998 to 2004, during which time it moved from being a departmental operation to a separate wholly owned subsidiary. From 2007 to 2009, he worked as General Manager China, managing the operations of both Dragonair and Cathay Pacific in the Mainland.

Mr Yeung holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from the University of Hong Kong.