William Douglas "'Doug" Parker is an American businessman who is the current Chairman and CEO of American Airlines Group, Inc., the parent company of American Airlines.
Early life and education:
Parker grew up in Michigan and received a BA in Economics from Albion College (1984). He then received an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University (1986), where American Airlines offered him a job after a campus interview.
Early career:
Parker was a financial analyst at American Airlines from 1986 to 1991, where he was a member of then CEO Robert Crandall's, "Brat Pack", alongside Thomas W. Horton (former CEO President and Chairman of American), C. David Cush (CEO of Virgin America) and Ben Baldanza (former CEO of Spirit Airlines).
Parker joined Northwest Airlines in 1991 and was tasked to help create a team that would systematically figure out where the airline was making and losing money. Tracking profits flight-by-flight in such detail at that level was a first for Northwest.
Parker became Chief Financial Officer of America West Airlines in 1995 after returning to USA, and because then-CEO Bill Franke wanted to train him to be a CEO, Parker moved around between finance, sales and operations. Parker was named Chairman and CEO in September 2001, 10 days before the 11 September terrorist attacks. Under Parker, America West was the first of several airlines to win post-9/11 federal loan guarantees, saving the airline from a second bankruptcy.
US Airways career:
America West and US Airways merged in 2005, with Parker continuing as CEO of the combined company. US Airways made an unsuccessful bid to merge with Delta Air Lines as it was in bankruptcy protection in 2006, faltering as Delta rallied workers and creditors against the hostile bid. Creditors rejected the bid in early 2007. US Airways also attempted a merger with United Airlines in 2008 and in 2010, but United ultimately merged with Continental Airlines.
American Airlines career
In 2012, US Airways launched an effort to merge with American Airlines, while American's parent company, AMR Corporation, was in bankruptcy protection. US Airways took the unprecedented step of securing tentative contracts with American’s labor groups, while AMR was still pushing to exit bankruptcy. That deal closed on 9 December 2013, and Parker was named CEO of the combined company, which became the world's largest airline.
Personal life:
Parker lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Gwen Parker, and three children. In 2007, Doug Parker pleaded guilty to his third DUI and was sentenced to 1 day in jail. After his conviction, shareholders questioned if the company should have disclosed Parker's two previous DUI arrests.
Awards and appearances:
2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Southwest region.
Commencement address at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management, 10 May 2013
William Douglas Parker was born in 31st October, 1962 in Michigan and received a BA in Economics from Albion College. He is an American finance manager who is the current Chairman and CEO of American Airlines Group, Inc., the parent organization of American Airlines. Parker was a monetary investigator at American Airlines from 1986 to 1991, where he was an individual from then CEO Robert Crandall's "brat Pack", close by Thomas W. Horton (previous CEO President and Chairman of American), C. David Cush (previous CEO of Virgin America), and Ben Baldanza (previous CEO of Spirit Airlines).
Parker lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Gwen Parker, and three kids. . He then, at that point got a MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University (1986), where American Airlines extended to him an employment opportunity after a grounds meet. In 2007, Doug Parker confessed to his third DUI and was condemned to 1 day in prison. After his conviction, investors addressed if the organization ought to have revealed Parker's two past DUI arrests. Parker supported Democratic competitor Hillary Clinton in the run-up for the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He and his family are dynamic individuals from Highland Park United Methodist Church. Moreover, in 2019, Parker gave to $2,500 to Democrat Steny Hoyer.
America West and US Airways converged in 2005, with Parker proceeding as CEO of the combined organization. In 2012, US Airways launched a push to converge with American Airlines, while American's parent organization, AMR Corporation, was in liquidation security. US Airways likewise endeavoured a consolidation with United Airlines in 2008 and in 2010, yet United at last converged with Continental Airlines. US Airways made the extraordinary stride of protecting conditional agreements with American's work gatherings, while AMR was all the while pushing to leave bankructcy. That arrangement shut on 9 December 2013, and Parker was named CEO of the joined organization, which turned into the world's biggest airlines.