American, US Airways name post-merger leadership

DALLAS — The new American Airlines will have more top executives from smaller US Airways than from the current American.

The companies named eight senior executives on Monday, including five from US Airways and three from American parent AMR Corp. AMR and US Airways Group Inc. hope to complete their proposed merger this summer.

The new team joins US Airways CEO Doug Parker, who will hold the same title after the merger. AMR CEO Tom Horton will serve briefly as chairman before exiting next year.

Parker is keeping the core of his inner circle intact. The new leadership team includes US Airways President Scott Kirby and others who have worked alongside Parker for several years.

Although AMR creditors and shareholders will own 72 percent of the new company, and it will still be based in Fort Worth, Texas, the makeup of the executive team underscores that it was Parker who drove the merger and convinced AMR’s unions and bankruptcy creditors to support him.

The airlines also announced the 12 directors of the new company, to be called American Airlines Group Inc. They include Parker and Horton. Former Kraft Foods Group Inc. Chairman John T. Cahill will be the lead outside director.

The senior executives joining from US Airways are Kirby as president, Derek Kerr as chief financial officer, Robert Isom as chief operating officer, and Elise Eberwein and Stephen Johnson as executive vice presidents.

From AMR’s ranks, Parker and Horton picked Beverly Goulet as chief integration officer, Maya Leibman as chief information officer, and William Ris as senior vice president of government affairs.

Another AMR veteran, Daniel Garton, will step down as CEO of American’s regional-flying affiliate American Eagle later this year, the companies said. No immediate successor was named.