American Airlines announced this Tuesday 7, that on March 31, 2022, Doug Parker will retire as CEO of the company and will be replaced by Robert Isom, current Chairman, marking the end of Parker’s successful career as the longest-serving CEO since the deregulation of the U.S. airline industry in the late 1970s. Isom will also move to the board of American Airlines, of which Parker will remain as Chairman.
Over the past two decades, Parker has successfully navigated through profound industry transformations driven by key events such as 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He became CEO of America West Airlines just ten days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks and played a major role in the creation of the stability fund that saved the major U.S. airlines. He led the merger of America West with US Airways in 2005, becoming CEO of the latter, leading processes that made it one of the best operating and financial performers in the industry.
But his definitive ascent to Olympus would come a few years later when in 2013 US Airways merged with American Airlines, which was the largest integration of two airlines in history, resulting in a giant that prior to the pandemic had more than 130,000 employees, generated USD 45.8 billion in revenue and transported around 200 million passengers a year.
His successor also comes from the US Airways school. Robert Isom was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer prior to the merger with American and then held the same positions at American, having led projects such as partnerships with Alaska Airlines and jetBlue. Previously he also spent time at GMAC, Northwest Airlines, and America West Airlines, holding various Senior Management positions.
«I have worked with Robert for two decades and am incredibly pleased that he is going to be the next CEO of American Airlines, which is truly the best job in our industry,» Parker said. «Robert is a collaborative leader with deep operational knowledge and global industry experience. His efforts to guide and support our team during the pandemic have been nothing short of phenomenal. We are well-positioned to take full advantage of our industry’s recovery, and the timing is now right for a handoff that we have planned and prepared for. I feel very fortunate to hand over the leadership reins to such a clear and capable leader,» he added.
Robert Isom said, «I feel honored to serve as CEO of American Airlines. In recent years, our airline and our industry have been through a period of truly transformational change. And along with change comes opportunity. Today, our more than 130,000 dedicated team members fly more people than any other U.S. airline in the youngest fleet of any airline in the network and have positioned us to continue to lead the industry as travel recovers,» while stressing his appreciation to Parker for their work together over the past two decades.
