American Airlines names Robert Isom to replace retiring CEO Doug Parker

American Airlines Group Inc. named President Robert Isom to replace Doug Parker as chief executive officer early next year, a sign of stability after the Covid-19 pandemic ignited a chaotic period for the industry.

Parker, who has led the airline since 2013, will step down as CEO on March 31 but stay on as chairman, according to a statement Tuesday.

Isom, 58, has been the heir apparent since he was appointed president in mid-2016 and his selection signals that a steady hand is intended for the airline’s first leadership transition in eight years. He and Parker have worked together for more than two decades, joining American after engineering the $11 billion merger that combined the carrier with US Airways Group.