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Mr. Bloggs
25th Nov 2005, 01:37
I see that Turnball just resigned from Swire.

Maybe he was given a choice "resign or be fired" or he threw peanuts at James or Adrian.

frankg
25th Nov 2005, 02:29
For immediate release Swire Media

24th November, 2005

Board Changes

Mr. David Turnbull, Chairman of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., Swire Pacific Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., has decided to leave the Swire group at the end of January 2006. He will continue as non-executive Chairman of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. Mr. Turnbull was Managing Director of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. for eight years and, after careful consideration, he has decided that he wishes to resume a more active operational role. His successor will be Mr. Christopher Pratt, aged 49. Mr. Pratt has worked for the Swire group for 27 years in a number of capacities and is presently responsible for the Swire Pacific Trading & Industrial Division as well as being Chairman of Swire Pacific Offshore Ltd. For further information, please contact: Mrs. Maisie Shun Wah (852) 2840 8097 office (852) 9192 9889 mobile



Thursday, November 24, 2005

Turnbull quits as head of Swire

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Updated at 7.08pm:
The head of one of Hong Kong's largest conglomerates, the Swire
Group's David Turnbull, is to step down less than a year after taking the
helm of the airline and property giant, the company said on Thursday.
Mr Turnbull would give up his post as head of Swire's huge array of
businesses, including airline Cathay Pacific, at the end of January, it
said. He will be replaced by Christopher Pratt, 49, who at present heads
up the group's Swire Pacific Trading and Industrial Division.
Mr Turnbull had taken over from chairman James Hughes-Hallett late
last year. A Swire spokeswoman said he had decided to resign to take a
more active role in the company's aircraft engineering and maintenance
business, Haeco, where he will be non-executive chairman.
Mr Turnbull's sudden resignation was greeted with surprise by airline
industry figures.
Martin Craigs, president of Aerospace Forum Asia, a business network
of airlines and suppliers, said he was stunned by the news.
"This will have huge repercussions," said Mr Craigs from Singapore. "It will have taken a lot of people by surprise."


Friday, November 25, 2005

Turnbull in shock exit as Swire
chief

STAFF REPORTER SCMP
Swire Pacific chairman David Turnbull has resigned from the group less
than a year after assuming the role in a move that has shocked
employees and observers of the company.
Senior local managers of the regional conglomerate were informed of
the shake-up yesterday morning by the London-based chairman of
parent firm John Swire & Sons, James Hughes-Hallett, who flew to
Hong Kong to make the announcement.
Mr Turnbull leaves his post at the end of January and will be succeeded
by Christopher Pratt, a career manager who has spent 27 years at Swire -
mostly in positions within its industries division.
The reasons for Mr Turnbull's departure are not known but a company
statement said: "Mr Turnbull was managing director of Cathay Pacific
Airways for eight years and after careful consideration, he has decided
that he wishes to resume a more active operational role."
He remains non-executive chairman of Hong Kong Aircraft
Engineering.
Having a reputation as a management bruiser, Mr Turnbull secured his
Cathay Pacific stripes by challenging the airline's pilot union,
culminating in the sacking of 51 pilots who refused to accept new work
conditions.
Yet Mr Turnbull's often abrasive style made him a surprising choice as
Swire Pacific chairman, since the role demands diplomatic finesse as
Cathay Pacific relies on Hong Kong government support to represent its
interests.
Swire's public statement, issued late yesterday afternoon, offered no
statement of thanks for Mr Turnbull's 11-month tenure at the top.
Executives close to the group who are in regular contact with senior
management said they had no inkling of his imminent departure.
Mr Pratt is a low-key manager whose career has mostly skirted Swire's
property and aviation mainstays.
An executive at a rival company described Mr Pratt as "highly
competent", saying: "He's a regular guy without airs, who will probably
still drive around in the family Volvo."
His challenge is to manage Swire's business interests in a post-colonial
setting and in particular to secure Cathay Pacific a meaningful position
in China's aviation sector.
Breaking the Swire "prince" mould among top brass, Mr Pratt attended a
state-funded British school before his Oxbridge education.
His father was the groundsman at Guildford cricket ground.


This is how one gets sacked at Swire and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. That arrogant mouthpiece Tony Tyler was Turdball's fag, I reckon he's next

busdriver
25th Nov 2005, 02:55
Nobody outside of Swire knows why he has "decided" to leave. So kindly stop the speculation and make statements based on fact, ".....if you dont know then dont say......."

Give the man his dignity, until proven otherwise!

cpdude
25th Nov 2005, 15:55
Well busdriver, not many leave such a position under these circumstances. Speculation is to be expected as something must be up. :suspect:

Mr. Bloggs
25th Nov 2005, 23:18
Maybe he going into Rehabilitation.

That would explain the sudden departure, why no reason was given by Swire and the non executive chairman position at HAECO.

Tornado Ali
26th Nov 2005, 06:24
...give the man his dignity...!!!?? You mean like he left Darby Munro with his dignity(the peanut incident)....or the 49er's...? Sorry, no ill will meant towards the man, but he proved himself over the years singularly lacking in compassion, judgement, discretion and not least of all character. It's time this airline had some senior management that demonstrated that they have respect and consideration towards their employees. Without us, there is no airline.

nus
27th Nov 2005, 06:30
Christmas has come early for me!!!!! What comes around goes around!

jbatriver
27th Nov 2005, 07:54
Judges in UK 49er's case maybe the answer.

Rumour has it that they are not impressed with the goings on to sack the 49's.

Swire Bloodletting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

every dog has his day

fr8ter boi
28th Nov 2005, 01:46
Doe this mean we can have the peanuts back in the Gay Bar? You just can't get the range with the popcorn!

cpdude
28th Nov 2005, 04:39
Apparently it's all a hoax and he's not leaving!
:}

Just joking!:E

VR-HFX
7th Dec 2005, 05:39
jbatriver - wrong

nus - good for you

tornado ali - Darby was a ticking bomb and no doubt(in hindsight) far happier back in Oz at Virgin Blue. As I have said before on this forum, his departure was in no way inevitable until he put his fate in the hands of management pilots...if he had called DT directly and apologised he would still be here.That said I hope he is doing well back in Brizvegas.

Mr Bloggs - wrong.

cpdude - speculation inevitable but cannot it just be possible he decided to move on with his life.

busdriver - yes they do.

Eddington flagged tougher times and management when he moved on...ditto for BA...

I do not expect Turnbull will be the most loved ex-CEO butI think we must all remember that Santa Sutch left the building long ago.

HotDog
7th Dec 2005, 09:37
Nobody had the panache of Peter Sutch who always achieved the Swire aims and placating the populance at the same time. A hard act to follow!

Mr Hankey
8th Dec 2005, 11:10
A ticking timebomb?

Watch out because DM is on course at CX.

The real ticking timebomb has just gone off into retirement ( sorry working had at HAECO) to avoid being pushed.