Doug Parker will step down as CEO of American Airlines in March, ending more than 25 years of leading major U.S. airlines through a series of bankruptcies and revivals, and becoming one of the most prominent spokespeople for the industry.
He’ll be replaced by Robert Isom, now AA president, and who has been Parker’s sidekick for most of those years. Parker has been CEO of American since the 2013 merger with US Airways, which Parker engineered. Parker will remain as Chairman.
Parker joined the leadership team at America West Airways as it emerged from bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, and was its CEO when it merged with bankrupt US Air in 2005, keeping the better-known US Air name. Parker followed the same strategy in 2013 when US Air took over the much larger American, keeping the better-known name.
Photo: Parker, right and Isom
