- American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL -0.2%) has boosted its chief operating officer, Robert Isom, to the role of president, effective immediately.
- He replaces J. Scott Kirby, who's leaving the airline to take that role at United (UAL +0.2%). Kirby was elected president of American Airlines in 2013 and was made president of US Airways (which merged with American in 2013) in 2006.
- Isom had begun his career at Northwest Airlines in 1991. He played a key role in integration in the merger, says CEO Doug Parker.
- The moves are part of the board's ongoing succession planning process, the company said.
- "As part of that process, and subsequent conversations regarding career expectations and the marketability of its executives, the company concluded it would not be able to retain its existing executive team in their current roles for an extended period," American says. "As a result, the Board chose to act proactively to establish a team and structure that will best serve American for the longer-term future."