Senior moves for American Airlines

AMR Corporation today named James Beer, 42, as senior vice president-Finance and chief financial officer. Filling a previously announced vacancy, Beer, who is currently vice president-Europe and Asia for AMR Corp. subsidiary American Airlines, will immediately begin the transition to his new role.

Two existing American Airlines officers will also move into new roles. Craig S. Kreeger, 44, who presently serves as vice president and general sales manager, will become vice president-Europe and Asia. C. David Cush, 43, who most recently oversaw the strategic reorganization of the St. Louis hub, will become vice president and general sales manager.

"James’ appointment demonstrates the depth of the management team here at AMR," said Gerard Arpey, president and chief executive officer of AMR Corporation and its American Airlines subsidiary. "James is a consummate professional, with an exceptionally strong financial background and an intimate familiarity with the significant challenges facing our industry. 

"The ability of Craig and David to step into new roles, while preserving the momentum of our recovery here at AMR, is further testament to the strength of our existing leadership team," Arpey said. "Craig has done a great job spearheading our sales programs as well as leading the critical effort to address distribution costs. In addition to David’s most recent responsibility in St. Louis, he has held leadership roles in Finance and Marketing and served as COO of Aerolineas Argentinas."

Beer joined American as a financial analyst in 1991. His progression through American’s Finance department included serving as managing director-Corporate Development, managing director-International Planning and vice president-Financial Analysis and Fleet Planning. In January 2000, Beer became vice president-Corporate Development and treasurer, assuming responsibility for American’s strategic initiatives, debt and equity financing, derivatives programs, banking, tax, insurance and fleet transactions. He remained in that role until June 2002 when he began overseeing American’s international sales activities and operations in Europe and Asia.

Prior to joining American, Beer spent seven years as a management consultant at Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture, in Europe and the United States. He holds a bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College, London University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Beer will be relocating back to the United States from the United Kingdom.

A veteran of American’s Marketing department, Kreeger joined American in 1985. He has held progressively responsible management roles in Finance, Banking, Corporate Development, Crew Resources and Yield Management. He was promoted to vice president-Revenue Management in 1995 and held that role until being selected to lead American’s sales team and its worldwide sales programs.

Kreeger holds a bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at San Diego and an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles. He will be relocating to London from the airline’s corporate offices in Texas.

Cush joined American as a member of the Finance department in 1986. He moved to Europe three years later as managing director-Finance and Administration for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He later served in American’s Miami, Caribbean and Latin American division first as managing director-Finance and Administration and then as managing director-Caribbean and Central America, where he oversaw all marketing and operational functions in those areas.

Moving back to American’s corporate headquarters in 1996, Cush became managing director-International Planning. He served in that role until 1998, when he joined Aerolineas Argentinas as chief operating officer. He returned to American two years later as vice president-International Planning and Alliances. He assumed responsibility for the St. Louis hub in September 2002.

Cush holds a bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Broadcast/Film and a bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southern Methodist University. He earned his MBA from SMU as well.