Robert Isom | |
Education: | University of Notre Dame (BS, BA) University of Michigan (MBA) |
CEO of American Airlines Group and American Airlines | |
Term: | March 2022– |
Predecessor: | Doug Parker |
Robert Isom, (born 1967[1]) is an American businessman and CEO of the American Airlines Group and its subsidiary American Airlines.[2] He was president of the airline from 2016 to 2022.
Isom was raised outside of Detroit, Michigan.[3] He attended the University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate studies where obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in English. He began working at Procter & Gamble before returning to Michigan to earn a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.[4]
After earning his MBA, Isom began his career in the airline industry at Northwest Airlines. He later worked at America West Airlines, before becoming the chief restructuring officer of GMAC, LLC. Isom then returned to America West, which had in 2005 merged with and was now named US Airways, to become Executive Vice President and COO.[5]
Following the merger of US Airways and American Airlines in 2013, Isom retained his previous position in the newly combined airline. In 2016, Isom became president of American Airlines. On December 7, 2021, it was announced by the airline that Isom would be succeeding Doug Parker as CEO, and on March 31, 2022, following Parker's resignation, Isom became CEO and joined the board of directors.[6]
Prior to officially becoming CEO, on March 17, 2022, it was announced by United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas that Isom had been named to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.[7]
Isom has donated to both Democratic and Republican political campaigns as well as to the American Airlines PAC.[8]