Rex Airlines chair Lim Kim Hai to step down

The news: The executive chair of regional airline Regional Express Holdings will step down after 21 years at the helm, prompting changes to its top management.

The numbers: Rex said deputy chair John Sharp has become the non-executive chair while Neville Howell, who has been chief operating officer for the last 10 years, will step up to the CEO role for an initial two-year term.

The context: The Sydney-based airline said Lim, who is also a significant shareholder, will remain on its board as a non-executive director, and all other board and management roles would remain the same.

Rex is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group companies, and operates a fleet of 66 aircraft to 56 destinations across all Australia's states.