FORT WORTH, Texas — Doug Parker will retire as CEO of American Airlines in March, handing over the top job of the nation’s largest airline to Robert Isom, currently the company’s president.
Parker, 60, will remain as chairman of American after stepping down as CEO. American had struggles with service problems this year as it tried to respond to leisure passengers’ pent-up demand for travel.
Parker’s announcement comes just days shy of his eighth anniversary on the job. He became CEO on Dec. 9, 2013, following then-bankrupt American’s merger with Phoenix-based US Airways, which he also headed.
“I have worked with Robert for two decades, and I am incredibly pleased that he will be the next CEO of American Airlines, which is truly the best job in our industry,” Parker said in a statement. “It has been the privilege of my life to serve for 20 years as an airline CEO. I am forever grateful to the American team, whose commitment to taking care of each other and our customers has never wavered and will continue to drive our success going forward.”
Isom said he was humbled by the opportunity and thanked Parker for his partnership through the years.
“He is a leader and teacher who inspires all around him and leaves an incredible legacy at American and in our industry,” Isom said in a statement. “Looking ahead, I am deeply honored to be working alongside the best team in the industry and know that we will achieve great things together.”
Below is Parker’s full statement:
“I have worked with Robert for two decades and I am incredibly pleased that he will be the next CEO of American Airlines, which is truly the best job in our industry. Robert is a collaborative leader with deep operational expertise and global industry experience. His efforts to guide and support our team throughout the pandemic have been nothing short of phenomenal. We are well-positioned to take full advantage of our industry’s recovery, and now is the right time for a handoff we have planned and prepared for. I feel extremely fortunate to hand the reins to this clear and capable leader. It has been the privilege of my life to serve for 20 years as an airline CEO. I am forever grateful to the American team, whose commitment to taking care of each other and our customers has never wavered and will continue to drive our success going forward.”
Isom, who was named president in 2016, brings more than 30 years of global industry and leadership experience across finance, operations, planning, marketing, sales, alliances, pricing and revenue management.
Below is Isom’s full statement:
“I am humbled to serve as CEO of American Airlines. Over the past several years, our airline and our industry have gone through a period of transformative change. And with change comes opportunity. Today, our more than 130,000 dedicated team members fly more people than any other U.S. airline on the youngest fleet of all the network carriers, and we are positioned to continue to lead the industry as travel rebounds. I want to thank Doug for his partnership over the past two decades. He is a leader and teacher who inspires all around him and leaves an incredible legacy at American and in our industry. Looking ahead, I am deeply honored to be working alongside the best team in the industry and know that we will achieve great things together.”
CNN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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