Gerard Arpey
Encyclopedia
Gerard J. Arpey is the former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of AMR Corporation, parent company to American Airlines
.
, Inc. in May 2004. Arpey had been President
and Chief Executive Officer
of AMR and American, since April 2003, when he was first elected a member of the Board of Directors of both companies. Prior to that, he had served as President and Chief Operating Officer of AMR and American since April 2002.
Arpey led a global organization that included American Airlines
, American Eagle and AmericanConnection, serving approximately 250 cities in 40 countries and territories around the world. During Arpey's tenure the combined network offered, on average, more than 3,400 flights a day with nearly 900 aircraft.
Before his appointment as President and COO, Arpey served as American’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of Finance and Planning, as well as its Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Planning.
Arpey married Lisa Walsh from Sherman, Texas in the 1980's and remain happily married to this day.
As Executive Vice President of Operations, Arpey was responsible for American’s worldwide flight operations including Maintenance and Engineering, Flight Department, Operations Planning, Purchasing, Corporate Real Estate, AA Cargo and American Eagle.
As the company’s chief finance and planning executive, Arpey directed the corporation’s strategic planning activities, including its scheduling, fleet planning and airline partnership activities. As Chief Financial Officer, he was responsible for the corporation’s finance functions including the Financial Planning, Treasury, Accounting, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations groups.
Arpey joined American Airlines
in 1982 as a Financial Analyst. He held numerous management positions during his career at American, including Managing Director of Airline Profitability Analysis, Managing Director of Financial Analysis and Fleet Planning, and Managing Director of Financial Planning. He became a corporate officer in 1989, when he was elected Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis.
Arpey announced his retirement on November 29, 2011, coinciding with the bankruptcy filing of American Airlines parent AMR. He was succeeded by Thomas W. Horton. Some industry analysts view the bankruptcy as the outcome of prolonged failure by Arpey to mend relationships with American's employee unions, particularly the pilots. Others have suggested that Arpey did long-term damage to AMR by not filing for Chapter 11 protection earlier on, something he equated with moral failure. Reportedly, Arpey declined requests by both the AMR board and Horton to stay on in some management capacity because of his unwillingness to work under a bankruptcy scenario. As per his contract, Arpey did not receive any severance upon retirement.
On Dec 1, 2011 Arpey joined Emerald Creek Group, LLC as a Partner. Arpey is a member of the Board of Directors of S. C. Johnson & Son
. (A Family Company). He is also a member of The Business Council and involved in a variety of civic organizations.
Arpey received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1980 and an MBA in 1982, both from the University of Texas at Austin
. He also holds a FAA Multi-Engine Instrument Pilot Rating and is an avid private pilot.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO) of AMR Corporation, parent company to American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
Career
Gerard J. Arpey was elected Chairman of AMR Corporation and American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, Inc. in May 2004. Arpey had been President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of AMR and American, since April 2003, when he was first elected a member of the Board of Directors of both companies. Prior to that, he had served as President and Chief Operating Officer of AMR and American since April 2002.
Arpey led a global organization that included American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, American Eagle and AmericanConnection, serving approximately 250 cities in 40 countries and territories around the world. During Arpey's tenure the combined network offered, on average, more than 3,400 flights a day with nearly 900 aircraft.
Before his appointment as President and COO, Arpey served as American’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of Finance and Planning, as well as its Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Planning.
Arpey married Lisa Walsh from Sherman, Texas in the 1980's and remain happily married to this day.
As Executive Vice President of Operations, Arpey was responsible for American’s worldwide flight operations including Maintenance and Engineering, Flight Department, Operations Planning, Purchasing, Corporate Real Estate, AA Cargo and American Eagle.
As the company’s chief finance and planning executive, Arpey directed the corporation’s strategic planning activities, including its scheduling, fleet planning and airline partnership activities. As Chief Financial Officer, he was responsible for the corporation’s finance functions including the Financial Planning, Treasury, Accounting, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations groups.
Arpey joined American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
in 1982 as a Financial Analyst. He held numerous management positions during his career at American, including Managing Director of Airline Profitability Analysis, Managing Director of Financial Analysis and Fleet Planning, and Managing Director of Financial Planning. He became a corporate officer in 1989, when he was elected Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis.
Arpey announced his retirement on November 29, 2011, coinciding with the bankruptcy filing of American Airlines parent AMR. He was succeeded by Thomas W. Horton. Some industry analysts view the bankruptcy as the outcome of prolonged failure by Arpey to mend relationships with American's employee unions, particularly the pilots. Others have suggested that Arpey did long-term damage to AMR by not filing for Chapter 11 protection earlier on, something he equated with moral failure. Reportedly, Arpey declined requests by both the AMR board and Horton to stay on in some management capacity because of his unwillingness to work under a bankruptcy scenario. As per his contract, Arpey did not receive any severance upon retirement.
On Dec 1, 2011 Arpey joined Emerald Creek Group, LLC as a Partner. Arpey is a member of the Board of Directors of S. C. Johnson & Son
S. C. Johnson & Son
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. , previously known as S. C. Johnson Wax , is a privately held, global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals based in Racine, Wisconsin. It has operations in 72 countries and its brands are sold in over 110...
. (A Family Company). He is also a member of The Business Council and involved in a variety of civic organizations.
Arpey received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1980 and an MBA in 1982, both from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He also holds a FAA Multi-Engine Instrument Pilot Rating and is an avid private pilot.
September 11, 2001
Arpey was Executive Vice President of Operations at the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in which American Airlines lost two planes. Arpey made the decision to ground all American Airlines flights in Northeast USA and then across the US before the FAA.External links
- Gerard Arpey's Executive Bio on aa.com
- August 2004 interview with St. Louis Commerce Magazine