photo of Doug Parker

Doug Parker

Chairman and CEO
American Airlines

Doug Parker was named chairman and CEO of American Airlines in 2013. Doug is a strong supporter of the people of the airline industry and American is emblematic of the transformation that has occurred in the industry in recent years.

Previously, Doug was chairman and CEO of US Airways. Under his leadership, US Airways achieved record revenue growth, operational performance and profit margins that outpaced most industry peers. Before the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines in 2005, Doug was chairman, president and CEO of America West. He became the CEO at America West just 10 days before Sept. 11, 2001, and led the carrier through the crisis.

Doug’s experience prior to joining America West in 1995 includes four years with Northwest Airlines as vice president, assistant treasurer and vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis. From 1986 to 1991, he held a number of financial management positions with American.

Doug sits on the boards of Airlines for America, IATA and oneworld. He’s also a member of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and the SMU Cox Executive Board.

Doug earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Albion College in 1984 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Vanderbilt University in 1986. He married his wife, Gwen, in 1990 and they have three children: Jackson, Luke and Eliza.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.