Cathay Pacific Appoints Local as New Country Manager

June 17 2015

Cathay Pacific Appoints Local as New Country Manager

Mark Pirihi has been appointed Country Manager for Cathay Pacific Airways, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, succeeding Brian Tsoi, who has been appointed Country Manager for Switzerland.

Mark Pirihi, who is currently Sales and Marketing Manager for Cathay Pacific in New Zealand, will in July celebrate 25 years working in Cathay Pacific’s Auckland office. Brought up in West Auckland he went to Kelston Boys High School and joined the travel industry as a cadet with Atlantic and Pacific Travel in Parnell. He says he didn’t choose the travel industry as a career so much as it “found me and accepted an irresponsible 18 year old.”

He will take up his new role on July 20 and says he is looking forward to leading the local Cathay Pacific team, which includes a total of 36 in the airline’s new Parnell city office, and the airport and cargo offices.

“As a local I already have a strong relationship with the Cathay team as well as all our key partners. At the same time it will be important for me to continue with regular dialogue with my colleagues around the network to ensure that we remain fresh and lively with new ideas and changing trends. The airline business is one of the most dynamic and constantly changing industries in the world, and it is an exciting time to be working at Cathay Pacific as we are currently expanding our network with new destinations, such as Manchester, Boston, Zurich and Dusseldorf.”

Mark Pirihi says that in turn, given the opportunity the company has given him, he hopes to nurture and develop local talent within Cathay Pacific to give them similar opportunities in the years ahead.

“As Country Manager I see it as an important role to develop the skills of the staff to assist them in their career development.”

Mark says that in his new role he hopes to continue on with the successful growth of the airline, which first started operating services to New Zealand in 1983 as tripartite venture between Cathay Pacific, Air Niugini and Air New Zealand. Cathay Pacific now offers three daily flights between New Zealand and its home base, Hong Kong, during the peak season (December to February) and two flights a day during the rest of the year.

Mark Pirihi is of Ngapuhi descent (his paternal grandfather was from Takahiwai on the shores of Whangarei Harbour). He and and his wife, Natalie, live in St Heliers and have two sons, Jackson, aged 13 and Fynn, aged 10.

While congratulating Mark Pirihi on his promotion current Country Manager Brian Tsoi said he was sad to be leaving New Zealand, as he said Kiwis had been very welcoming and he enjoyed the open outdoor lifestyle after his previous stint in the Middle East. However, he says he is looking forward to a new challenge of building Cathay Pacific’s business in such a financial and tourist hub as Switzerland. The airline launched daily flights to Zurich at the end of March this year.

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