How Doug Parker worked his way from analyst to head of the world’s biggest airline
Skift Take
The case of Doug Parker, the affable CEO that’s be known to dress up as Psy for Halloween, will be a study for business courses when looking at CEOs that have relentlessly gone after what their businesses needed and succeeded.
The man who once said he never planned to be a CEO is expected to be put in charge of the world's largest airline.
Doug Parker, 51, who has led the campaign to merge US Airways with American, has been tapped to lead the combined company as chief executive officer, sources said Wednesday. AMR Corp's chairman and CEO Tom Horton will become non-executive chairman.
As the head of US Airways and previously America West, Parker has advocated for industry consolidation for years with failed attempts to purchase Delta Air Lines and merge with United Airlines.
But with the merger of American and US Airways, Parker will get his chance to create the nation's pre-eminent airline, something he has been campaigning about for more than a year.
"We think we have an opportunity here to build the greatest airline in the world and restore American to the level that it was back when I worked there, when we were all so proud of the airline," Parker s
