The executive leadership announced for the merged entities of US Airways and American Airlines (AMR) aka American Airlines Group tells a good story.

First, Doug Parker is firmly in charge.  Very firmly.  Second, Doug Parker is going to go forward trusting the team that got him where he is today.

The team is:

• Scott Kirby, 45, president overseeing marketing, sales and operations.
• Elise Eberwein, 48, executive vice president for human resources and communications.
• Beverly Goulet, 58,  chief integration officer. (AA executive now)
• Robert Isom, 49, chief operating officer for US Airways, COO for American Airlines Group.
• Stephen Johnson, 56, executive vice president for corporate affairs such as legal and regulatory issues.
• Derek Kerr, 48, chief financial officer.
• Maya Leibman, 47, chief information officer overseeing technology systems.  (AA executive now)
• William Ris, 65, senior vice president for government affairs.  (AA executive now)

Additionally, Dan Garton (CEO of American Eagle) will be leaving and I’m sorry to hear that.  I do hope that Garton may have another very good position lined up elsewhere.  He had been made CEO and President of American Eagle with expectation that it would become an independent company for him to run.  Now, not so much.

These were the right choices.  This is a real “A” team lineup.  This is not a political lineup but a real lineup of truly the best people for the positions.  Will Ris will leave soon but he’ll be of great benefit for the next few years of integration.  Beverly Goulet is essential as she knows where all the bodies are buried and she is very, very smart.  Maya Leibman is exceptionally talented and brings something that this new airline will need:  Someone who has been there and done that on reservations systems.  She’ll have the unenviable task of merging systems here and her knowledge of what has already been tried will be very helpful.

If I’m an investor or employee of the company, I am very happy about this announcement.

If I’m middle management at American Airlines, I’m a little shaken and worried for my future.

What this is not is a repeat performance of the ContiUnited merger.  Jeff Smisek went political with that merger and consented to keeping United staffers under pressure from then Chairman Glenn Tilton.  Retaining those people retained United’s old way of doing things and kept the Continental Breath of Fresh Air from entering the organization.  I’m not sure Smisek can turn it around at this point.

But Doug Parker has clearly decided to use those who do have a successful track record and who brought him to this dance.  He’s clearly positioning himself to follow the Delta / Northwest model of “how to integrate two airlines” and I firmly believe that this should cause creditors and financial analysts to get much more comfortable with the merger and its approval.

Filed under: Mergers and Bankruptcy by ajax