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Cebu Pacific will have a change in leadership by January 1, 2023, with Lance Gokongwei appointed as chairman
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Michael Szucs and Alexander Lao will be the new CEO and president, respectively
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Current chairman James L. Go will continue to be an adviser to the Cebu Pacific Board and Executive Committee
Cebu Pacific will undergo a change in leadership by January 1, 2023, with Lance Gokongwei becoming chairman and Michael Szucs and Alexander Lao chief executive officer (CEO) and president, respectively.
According to a regulatory disclosure, Board of Directors of Cebu Air, Inc. in a meeting on December 5 approved the development. Gokongwei will replace James L. Go, who will continue to be an adviser to the Cebu Pacific Board and Executive Committee “to ensure that his institutional wisdom is carried over” as the airline transitions to the new organization.
In an announcement, Cebu Pacific said the changes is designed to “adapt to the evolving operating environment; further strengthening our position and preparing us for the future, while continuously driving value for all our stakeholders.”
It explained: “Over the past years, we have seen significant, even unprecedented changes in our operating environment. Aside from the economic downturn the pandemic has brought about, we are seeing consumers emerging from the aftermath with markedly different behaviors, expectations and demands. Sustainability and digitalization are now the forefront in the minds of passengers who want to see the airline industry do its part in providing safe, convenient, and seamless travel experiences while building a greener and more sustainable future.”
Lance Gokongwei is currently the president and CEO of Cebu Pacific. From the airline’s inception in 1996, Gokongwei has been with Cebu Pacific and “will continue to lend his considerable experience and invaluable strategic advice as the new Chairman, on top of his responsibility in presiding all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors”, the airline said.
Szucs, who is currently chief executive adviser, will report to the chairman and will work closely with the Board and the Gokongwei Group’s executive committee and executive leadership council once he officially becomes CEO.
With this move, Cebu Pacific said Szucs becomes the manager with overall accountability for the operations of Cebu Pacific, as recognized by and documented in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
Szucs joined Cebu Pacific in 2016, bringing with him leadership experience spanning over 20 years across six global airlines.
Lao, meanwhile, will remain as chief commercial officer concurrent to being president by next year. In his expanded role as president, Lao will take a more active role in supporting the CEO in strategic execution and stakeholder management, including regulators, government partners, and investors, among others. Prior to this appointment, Lao was vice president for commercial planning before becoming chief strategy officer where he led the Corporate Strategy Office that played an integral part in Cebu Pacific’s Future Size and Shape initiative in 2020. He also previously served as president and chief executive officer of Cebu Pacific sister airline Cebgo.
Cebu Pacific said with the continued recovery, “we are optimistic about the next phase of our growth, buoyed by the extraordinary resilience and agility demonstrated by the organization in the most difficult times.”
The Cebu Air group consists of Cebgo, Aviation Partnership (Philippines) Corp., and 10 special purpose entities. As of September 30, the group operates a route network serving 60 domestic routes and 21 international routes with a fleet of 77 aircraft.
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