Scott Kirby

Scott Kirby
Kirby in 2018
Born
John Scott Kirby

(1967-08-13) August 13, 1967 (age 57)
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
George Washington University (MS)
OccupationBusiness executive
EmployerUnited Airlines
TitleCEO of United Airlines
PredecessorOscar Munoz
Children7

John Scott Kirby[1] (born August 13, 1967) is an American executive and the CEO of United Airlines. He was president of US Airways and American Airlines, as well as president of United Airlines from 2016 to 2020, when he was promoted as CEO.

Early life and education

Kirby was raised as the oldest of six children in Rowlett, Texas. In high school, he played baseball and football, and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.[2] He received his bachelor's degree in computer science and operations research from the United States Air Force Academy, where he trained to be an aircraft pilot, in 1989. He later earned his master's degree in operations research at George Washington University.[2][3]

Career

Early in his career, Kirby worked at The Pentagon as a budget analyst for the United States Secretary of Defense for three years. He later worked for Sabre Decision Technologies (SDT), a subsidiary of AMR Corporation within the tourism and transport industries.[2]

Kirby joined America West Airlines in 1995,[4] initially as a senior director of scheduling and planning, and later as vice president of planning (1997), vice president of revenue management (1998), senior vice president of the company's computer program system (2000), and executive vice president.[2][5] Kirby began as president of US Airways in September 2006,[6][7] after the two airlines merged in 2005.[8] He led US Airways' team for planning the merger.[5] He also oversaw daily operations as well as marketing and sales strategies in his role as president.[2] Kirby became president of American Airlines after the company merged with US Airways in 2013.[3][9] He and American Airlines chief executive officer (CEO) Doug Parker worked closely together at America West, US Airways, and American.[8][10]

Kirby became president of United Airlines in August 2016.[11][12] He was announced as the successor to the CEO role in December 2019, following Oscar Munoz; his tenure started in May 2020. Kirby has been credited with expanding the airline's flight network,[13] and restructuring hubs in Chicago, Denver, and Houston.[14][15]

In December 2020, Kirby was elected as chairman of the Star Alliance chief executive board (CEB), succeeding former chairman Pedro Heilbron.[16]

In August 2021, Kirby told Axios about his decision to mandate all United employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming he's had dozens of employees die from COVID "and 100% of them are unvaccinated."[17]

Personal life

Kirby is married and has seven children. He has four daughters: Brittany, Madison, Alexandra and Scarlett; and three sons: Sean, James, and Logan.[18][2][19] He has donated money to both Republican and Democratic politicians, and donated to Steve Bullock's Presidential campaign in 2020.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Browse Individual contributions". FEC.gov. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Natale, Tony (April 29, 2007). "A 'take charge' guy soars high". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Josephs, Leslie (December 6, 2019). "United Airlines' next CEO is a 'details guy' who will have labor contracts and the 737 Max on his plate". CNBC. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Sider, Alison; Cameron, Doug (December 5, 2019). "United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz to Step Down". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Maxon, Terry (February 25, 2013). "Kirby and Goulet to lead American Airlines-US Airways planning for merger". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Zumbach, Lauren (December 5, 2019). "New United CEO Scott Kirby is known as a 'details guy' who spent years prepping for the role, including at rival American Airlines". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "US Airways names new president". Phoenix Business Journal. American City Business Journals. September 29, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Bachman, Justin; Schlangenstein, Mary (December 5, 2019). "United's Kirby Gets Turn as an Airline CEO After Years as No. 2". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Niraj, Chokshi (December 5, 2019). "United C.E.O. Munoz to Step Down, 5 Years After Leading Turnaround". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Sider, Alison; Cameron, Doug (December 8, 2019). "Rival CEOs at American, United Share a Long History". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Jansen, Bart (August 29, 2016). "United hires president dropped by American". USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  12. ^ Carey, Susan (August 29, 2016). "American Airlines President Moves to United Continental". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Vats, Rachit; Rucinski, Tracy (December 5, 2019). "United Airlines picks industry veteran Kirby for top job". Reuters. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "United Airlines' Plan to Beat Delta and American Could Lower Airfares for Everybody". Fortune. January 29, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Bachman, Justin (January 29, 2018). "United's Kirby goes rogue with plan that may spur lower airfares". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via Bloomberg News.
  16. ^ Baker, Michael B. (December 11, 2020). "Star Alliance Appoints United CEO Kirby as Board Chair". Business Travel News. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  17. ^ Muller, Joann (2021-08-25). "United CEO: Mandating COVID vaccine was a no-brainer". Axios. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  18. ^ "Company Leadership - United Airlines Holdings, Inc".
  19. ^ Bart, Jansen (May 4, 2017). "United exec Kirby says he's no stranger to flight delays or sitting in economy". USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "Scott Kirby - $8,350 in Political Contributions for 2016". www.campaignmoney.com. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
Business positions
Preceded by
Robert Isom
 President of United Airlines
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Brett J. Hart
Preceded by CEO of United Airlines
2020–present 		Incumbent