US Airways Fills Senior Management Positions
US Airways Group, Inc.
announced today that it has filled several senior management positions and
restructured responsibilities both at US Airways and US Airways Express.
These changes will take place between now and the end of January. They
include: Bruce Ashby: Ashby, currently senior vice president of alliances and
president of US Airways Express, will become executive vice president of
marketing and planning, replacing Ben Baldanza, who has accepted a
position at another company. He will oversee the company’s route planning,
scheduling, pricing and yield management functions, as well as marketing,
sales, reservations, distribution, international, alliances, cargo and US
Airways Express. Ashby was the lead negotiator in reaching cost savings
labor agreements with the company’s pilots and flight attendants.
Ashby joined US Airways in April 1996 as vice president—financial
planning and analysis. Before that, he was with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta
as vice president—marketing development. He also was employed by United
Airlines in Chicago as vice president—financial planning and analysis,
and as vice president and treasurer. Ashby received his master’s degree in
operations research from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., and a
bachelor’s degree in economics, also from Stanford.
Andrew P. Nocella: Nocella, vice president of network and revenue
management, will become senior vice president—planning, responsible for
the company’s route planning, scheduling, pricing, and yield management
functions. He joined US Airways as vice president of scheduling and
planning in April 2002 from America West Airlines where he was vice
president, planning and scheduling. A graduate of George Mason University,
Nocella holds a bachelor’s of science degree in decision sciences.
Anita P. Beier: In addition to her existing role as senior vice president
and controller, Beier will be responsible for the company’s organizational
re- engineering and priorities. She replaces James Schear, vice president
of restructuring, who will become vice president of safety and regulatory
compliance. Schear succeeds William Bozin, who has accepted a position at
another company.
Beier currently is responsible for the management of all accounting
functions for US Airways Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including
financial reporting, revenue accounting, accounts payable, and payroll.
She came to US Airways from CSX Corp., where she held a number of
positions in financial management, including vice president—financial
planning. She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business
administration and a master’s in business administration from the
University of Maryland.
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James P. Schear: Schear joined US Airways in September 2004 from the FAA’s
Air Traffic Organization, where he was vice president of safety,
responsible for safety direction and assurance in all facets of the
National Airspace System and international leadership of the FAA’s global
safety efforts. He also was deputy for aviation operations for the
Transportation Security Administration. In that role, he was responsible
for an operational chain of 159 Federal Security Directors, and managed
over 60,000 employees at 440 airports.
Schear, a licensed commercial pilot, started his aviation career with
Pacific Southwest Airlines in 1975, which was merged into US Airways in
1988. At US Airways, he served in a variety of management functions,
including manager of flight operations and director of business planning
—flight operations. A career naval aviator and a U.S. Naval Academy
graduate, Schear served 37 years combined in the U.S. Navy and Naval
Reserve. He flew the P-3 both on active and reserve duty, retiring as a
rear admiral in 2000. Schear holds a degree in engineering.
Janet Dhillon: Dhillon, managing director and associate general counsel,
will become vice president and deputy general counsel replacing Kathleen
Harris, who left the company in December. She will be responsible for
general corporate matters, including corporate compliance, internal audit,
Sarbanes- Oxley implementation and environmental issues.
Before joining US Airways in August 2004, Dhillon was a counsel with
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Washington, D.C., and Los
Angeles. Dhillon graduated from the UCLA Law School in 1991, and graduated
magna*censored*laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Occidental College in 1984 with a
degree in history and minor degree in political science.
Stephen Morrell: Morrell, vice president of financial planning and
analysis, will become vice president of finance and treasurer, replacing
Eilif Serck-Hanssen, who accepted a position at another company. Morrell
will be responsible for US Airways’ capital markets and aircraft financing
and transactions, insurance programs, risk and cash management, pensions,
investments programs, treasury, and fuel.
Morrell joined US Airways in 1994 as an analyst, maintenance operations.
Since that time he has served in a number of positions in treasury,
including director of treasury operations and assistant treasurer. He
attended the University of Rochester and received a bachelor’s degree in
economics in 1985. He also holds a master’s degree in business
administration with a concentration in finance from the Fuqua School of
Business at Duke University. Morrell served in the United States Navy from
1985-1992.
Keith Houk: At US Airways Express, Houk, president and chief executive
officer of wholly owned US Airways subsidiary Piedmont Airlines, will
replace Richard E. Pfennig, who is retiring as president and chief
executive officer of wholly owned US Airways subsidiary PSA. Houk will be
replaced by Steven Farrow, currently vice president of flight operations
at Piedmont.
Houk received a bachelor’s of business administration degree from Ohio
University in 1969. He also was a United States Air Force captain and F-4E
Phantom fighter pilot. Houk entered aviation in 1974 in sales at Allegheny
Commuter and later joined US Airways in 1988.
Steven Farrow: Farrow has been vice president of flight operations at
Piedmont and previously held the same position at Henson Aviation. He is
in charge of all Piedmont’s flight operations. He is a graduate of
Dartmouth College and served 21 years in the U.S. Navy.
“Bruce Ashby has been the architect of our alliance and regional jet
growth strategies, which had been major components of our ability to
generate more revenue and improve service for our customers. He is eager
and well qualified to step into his new role and quickly take charge,”
said Bruce R. Lakefield, US Airways’ president and chief executive
officer. “As a whole, these individuals are experienced leaders with a
proven record of delivering positive results. Their depth of talent will
serve US Airways well as it transforms itself into a stronger carrier.”
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