Celia Lao
About Celia Lao
Celia Lao serves as the General Manager of Greater China at AirAsia Digital, leveraging her extensive experience in marketing and operations management within the aviation sector. With a strong educational background and a history of leadership roles, she has significantly contributed to AirAsia's business development in the Greater China region.
Current Role at AirAsia
Celia Lao serves as the General Manager for Greater China at AirAsia Digital, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on enhancing digital initiatives and expanding AirAsia's presence in the Greater China region. Additionally, she has been the CEO for AirAsia in Hong Kong and Macau since 2017, overseeing operations and strategic direction in these markets.
Previous Experience in Aviation
Celia Lao has extensive experience in the aviation sector. She worked at Macau International Airport Co., Ltd. as the Head of Marketing from 2003 to 2004 and previously held the position of Promotion & Communication Manager from 1995 to 1999. Her tenure at AirAsia includes roles such as Country Head for Greater China from 2004 to 2010 and General Manager for Regulatory, Airport & Network Planning from 2010 to 2017.
Education and Expertise
Celia Lao holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors from the University of Macau, specializing in International Marketing. She furthered her education with a Master’s degree from the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA program. Additionally, she has been studying at The Feuerstein-Bassou International Academy since 2014, focusing on Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment and achieving the status of Mediator.
Skills and Competencies
Celia Lao possesses strong skills in regulatory compliance, ensuring that operations adhere to industry standards and legal requirements. Her expertise includes negotiating with government bodies and managing airport affairs, which are essential for her roles in the aviation industry. She has also developed marketing strategies that have significantly contributed to AirAsia's business development in the Greater China region.
Career in Marketing and Communications
Before her extensive career in aviation, Celia Lao worked in marketing and communications roles at various organizations. She served as the Head of Marketing and Communication at 3 Hong Kong for 11 months in 2001 and as the Director of Corporate Communications at TurboJET for 11 months in 2002. These experiences have shaped her strategic approach in her executive roles within the airline industry.