Executive Movements @ American Airlines

Capitalizing on the momentum generated by the granting of antitrust immunity across the Atlantic, and anticipating similar immunity across the Pacific, AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, has reorganized its senior management team.

Tom Horton, previously Executive Vice President of Finance and Planning and Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to the position of President – AMR and American Airlines, and will continue to report directly to AMR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gerard Arpey. With his expanded responsibilities, Horton will oversee the finance, planning, sales and marketing, customer service, and information technology organizations.

Reporting to Horton will be:

Virasb Vahidi, Senior Vice President – Marketing and Planning and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Vahidi, formerly Senior Vice President – Planning, will have expanded responsibilities for the development, management and promotion of American's products and services. Vahidi will add sales and distribution, marketing and advertising, and the AAdvantage frequent flyer program to his responsibilities in addition to continuing to oversee network planning, corporate/fleet planning, corporate real estate, revenue management and strategic alliances, including American's membership in the oneworld alliance. In other changes on Vahidi's team:

Rob Friedman will serve in the role of Vice President – Marketing. Friedman, formerly President of the AAdvantage program, will consolidate and lead advertising, brand and marketing efforts for all of the company's products and services.

 Derek DeCross, formerly Managing Director – Interactive Marketing, will be President – AAdvantage.

Craig Kreeger, Senior Vice President – Customer Experience. In this position, Kreeger will be responsible for customer service and the overall customer experience. Kreeger, formerly Senior Vice President – International, will oversee AA.com, inflight services, reservations, the Jetstream project to create a next-generation passenger service system, the customer experience initiative, and corporate communications, including internal and external communications.

Bella Goren, Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Goren, formerly Senior Vice President – Customer Relationship Marketing, will be responsible for all of the corporation's financial functions, including treasury, corporate finance, corporate development, purchasing, accounting, financial planning and relationships with the investment community. As CFO, Goren will oversee all of the company's cost management activities, financial reporting, balance sheet and financing initiatives, and corporate transactions.

Monte Ford, Senior Vice President – Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. Ford will continue to oversee all aspects of the company's information technology strategy and operations, including development and deployment of next-generation technology projects to improve customer service and efficiency. Ford will continue to oversee information technology initiatives for the operations, human resources, government affairs, and other organizations, which report to the Chairman and CEO.

The position of Vice President – International is expected to be filled at a later date when a replacement is named to assume Kreeger's former duties.

 In other changes, Captain John Hale, Director Crew Relations, has been named Vice President – Flight, replacing Mark Hettermann, who retired in June. Denise Lynn, formerly Vice President – Diversity and Leadership Strategies, will serve in the role of Vice President – Onboard Services. Lynn will be responsible for leading AA's flight attendants. Taking Lynn's place as VP – Diversity and Leadership Strategies will be Lauri Curtis, the previous Vice President – Onboard Services.

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