TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC)
today named airline industry veteran Robert Isom to the newly created position
of executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective
immediately. In this position, Isom, 43, will head up the airline's
operations, including flight operations, inflight services, maintenance and
engineering, airport customer service, reservations, cargo and the Express
operation.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGO)
The airline also named Daniel Pon to the position of vice president, human
resources and Kerry Hester to the position of vice president, customer service
planning. Senior Vice President, Customer Service Anthony V. Mule also
announced his plans to retire after a 35-year career in the aviation industry
that spanned American Airlines, Pan American, America West and US Airways.
Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, "It's an exciting day for our airline
to add three experienced executives to our team. Each of them brings a unique
set of experiences and knowledge that will help us achieve our goal to build a
better airline.
"I also want to acknowledge the upcoming retirement of Anthony Mule, who
has worked with me and others at our airline for more than 11 years. Anthony
has been part of the aviation community for over 35 years and has made a
positive impact on many people along the way. We are grateful for his
contributions to our airline and look forward to building on the foundation he
has put into place."
Building A Better Airline
In the role of chief operating officer, Isom will report to US Airways
President Scott Kirby, who said, "We are very pleased to have an executive of
Robert's caliber join us. In addition to possessing a strong background in
international and domestic airline operations, Robert brings a good balance of
customer focused ideas and the right analytical skills to help US Airways
navigate in an ever evolving industry. He has a passion for, and an acute
understanding of the airline industry, which will prove invaluable to the
customers and employees of US Airways."
Isom comes to US Airways from GMAC, LLC where he last served as chief
restructuring officer. Prior to that time he was the senior vice president,
ground operations and airport customer service for Northwest Airlines. In this
position, he was responsible for directing all passenger, baggage and security
related activities at 180 domestic and international airports. During his
tenure, Northwest achieved industry-leading on-time departure performance and
deployed automation and self-service technology that greatly improved the
airport experience for passengers and employees alike.
Before that, Isom was vice president, international for Northwest Airlines
and was based in Tokyo for a period of time after the 9/11 attacks. There,
Isom helped reorganize Northwest's international operations and worked closely
with government agencies to implement new security measures.
Between 1995 and 2000, Isom was with the former America West Airlines and
held senior executive roles in revenue management, operations and finance.
Isom started his career with the Procter and Gamble Manufacturing Company.
He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of
arts in English from the University of Notre Dame, and a master of business
administration from the University of Michigan. Isom, his wife Amy and their
three children will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Engaging Our Employees
US Airways also named Daniel P. Pon, 55, to the position of vice
president, human resources. Pon will report to Elise Eberwein, senior vice
president people, communications and culture, and will be responsible for the
airline's domestic and international human resources services, including
medical and retirement benefits, compensation, employee assistance services,
employee relations, drug and alcohol testing and employee travel.
"Operating an airline our customers enjoy depends on having engaged and
enthusiastic employees," said Eberwein. "You simply can't have one without the
other, and the HR department's mission, to serve our internal customers, will
be further realized under Dan's leadership. Dan brings comprehensive HR
generalist experience as well as an extensive background in benefits,
administration and employee relations. Most importantly, he will do a
fantastic job overseeing the policies that make life easier for our most
important internal customer, the more than 36,000 people who are US Airways."
Pon brings more than 15 years of human resources experience and was most
recently vice president, global compensation and benefits for Sanmina-SCI of
San Jose, California. With an employee base of 40,000, Pon oversaw global
benefits and retirement and managed that company's total compensation
programs. He brings additional experience from ASTAR Air Cargo and was a key
member of that air cargo company's 2005 hub relocation project. Pon served as
vice president, E*Trade Group from 1997 to 2001.
He holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a master of arts in
public administration from California State University, Hayward, and is a
member of the Society for Human Resource Management. He and his wife Teresa
will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Taking Care of Our Customers
US Airways also announced that Kerry Hester, 37, will join US Airways
later this month as vice president, customer service planning. In this newly
created position, Hester will coordinate the overall customer travel
experience -- from the initial reservation, to check-in at the airport and
onto the plane, all the way to what happens in irregular operations
situations.
Isom remarked, "Kerry is a strategic and analytical executive who also has
a passion for seamless customer service. Her mission at our airline will
include building on our current airport operations and working with other
departments to ensure that the travel experience is enjoyable and efficient
for our customers."
Hester joins the airline from Northwest Airlines. During her eleven years
at Northwest, she built a broad base of airline knowledge through a variety of
leadership roles in revenue management, planning, airport operations, and
reservations. Most recently, she served as managing director, employee
engagement. Prior to joining Northwest Airlines in 1996, Hester worked at
Aeroquip Corporation and Andersen Consulting.
Hester graduated with a bachelor of arts in economics from Tulane
University and earned a master of business administration from the University
of Michigan. She and her husband Doug will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Parker concluded, "We have a great management team today and the
additional bench strength these three executives bring will help complete our
integration and build a great place to work for our people and an airline that
customers enjoy flying."
We'll have to see!
today named airline industry veteran Robert Isom to the newly created position
of executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective
immediately. In this position, Isom, 43, will head up the airline's
operations, including flight operations, inflight services, maintenance and
engineering, airport customer service, reservations, cargo and the Express
operation.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGO)
The airline also named Daniel Pon to the position of vice president, human
resources and Kerry Hester to the position of vice president, customer service
planning. Senior Vice President, Customer Service Anthony V. Mule also
announced his plans to retire after a 35-year career in the aviation industry
that spanned American Airlines, Pan American, America West and US Airways.
Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, "It's an exciting day for our airline
to add three experienced executives to our team. Each of them brings a unique
set of experiences and knowledge that will help us achieve our goal to build a
better airline.
"I also want to acknowledge the upcoming retirement of Anthony Mule, who
has worked with me and others at our airline for more than 11 years. Anthony
has been part of the aviation community for over 35 years and has made a
positive impact on many people along the way. We are grateful for his
contributions to our airline and look forward to building on the foundation he
has put into place."
Building A Better Airline
In the role of chief operating officer, Isom will report to US Airways
President Scott Kirby, who said, "We are very pleased to have an executive of
Robert's caliber join us. In addition to possessing a strong background in
international and domestic airline operations, Robert brings a good balance of
customer focused ideas and the right analytical skills to help US Airways
navigate in an ever evolving industry. He has a passion for, and an acute
understanding of the airline industry, which will prove invaluable to the
customers and employees of US Airways."
Isom comes to US Airways from GMAC, LLC where he last served as chief
restructuring officer. Prior to that time he was the senior vice president,
ground operations and airport customer service for Northwest Airlines. In this
position, he was responsible for directing all passenger, baggage and security
related activities at 180 domestic and international airports. During his
tenure, Northwest achieved industry-leading on-time departure performance and
deployed automation and self-service technology that greatly improved the
airport experience for passengers and employees alike.
Before that, Isom was vice president, international for Northwest Airlines
and was based in Tokyo for a period of time after the 9/11 attacks. There,
Isom helped reorganize Northwest's international operations and worked closely
with government agencies to implement new security measures.
Between 1995 and 2000, Isom was with the former America West Airlines and
held senior executive roles in revenue management, operations and finance.
Isom started his career with the Procter and Gamble Manufacturing Company.
He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of
arts in English from the University of Notre Dame, and a master of business
administration from the University of Michigan. Isom, his wife Amy and their
three children will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Engaging Our Employees
US Airways also named Daniel P. Pon, 55, to the position of vice
president, human resources. Pon will report to Elise Eberwein, senior vice
president people, communications and culture, and will be responsible for the
airline's domestic and international human resources services, including
medical and retirement benefits, compensation, employee assistance services,
employee relations, drug and alcohol testing and employee travel.
"Operating an airline our customers enjoy depends on having engaged and
enthusiastic employees," said Eberwein. "You simply can't have one without the
other, and the HR department's mission, to serve our internal customers, will
be further realized under Dan's leadership. Dan brings comprehensive HR
generalist experience as well as an extensive background in benefits,
administration and employee relations. Most importantly, he will do a
fantastic job overseeing the policies that make life easier for our most
important internal customer, the more than 36,000 people who are US Airways."
Pon brings more than 15 years of human resources experience and was most
recently vice president, global compensation and benefits for Sanmina-SCI of
San Jose, California. With an employee base of 40,000, Pon oversaw global
benefits and retirement and managed that company's total compensation
programs. He brings additional experience from ASTAR Air Cargo and was a key
member of that air cargo company's 2005 hub relocation project. Pon served as
vice president, E*Trade Group from 1997 to 2001.
He holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a master of arts in
public administration from California State University, Hayward, and is a
member of the Society for Human Resource Management. He and his wife Teresa
will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Taking Care of Our Customers
US Airways also announced that Kerry Hester, 37, will join US Airways
later this month as vice president, customer service planning. In this newly
created position, Hester will coordinate the overall customer travel
experience -- from the initial reservation, to check-in at the airport and
onto the plane, all the way to what happens in irregular operations
situations.
Isom remarked, "Kerry is a strategic and analytical executive who also has
a passion for seamless customer service. Her mission at our airline will
include building on our current airport operations and working with other
departments to ensure that the travel experience is enjoyable and efficient
for our customers."
Hester joins the airline from Northwest Airlines. During her eleven years
at Northwest, she built a broad base of airline knowledge through a variety of
leadership roles in revenue management, planning, airport operations, and
reservations. Most recently, she served as managing director, employee
engagement. Prior to joining Northwest Airlines in 1996, Hester worked at
Aeroquip Corporation and Andersen Consulting.
Hester graduated with a bachelor of arts in economics from Tulane
University and earned a master of business administration from the University
of Michigan. She and her husband Doug will relocate to the Phoenix area.
Parker concluded, "We have a great management team today and the
additional bench strength these three executives bring will help complete our
integration and build a great place to work for our people and an airline that
customers enjoy flying."
We'll have to see!
That is sooooo dead on. The poor thing. He's not even warm in his seat yet. I can't stop laughing. 
