Scott Kirby
{{short description|American airline executive}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Scott Kirby
| image = Scott Kirby, United Airlines.jpg
| caption = Kirby in 2018
| birth_name = John Scott Kirby
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|8|13}}
| birth_place =
| education = United States Air Force Academy (BS)
George Washington University (MS)
| occupation = Business executive
| predecessor = Oscar Munoz
| children = 7
| employer = United Airlines
| title = CEO of United Airlines
}}
John Scott Kirby{{cite web |title=Browse Individual contributions |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Scott+John+Kirby&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020 |website=FEC.gov |accessdate=27 August 2020 |language=en}} (born August 13, 1967) is an American executive and the CEO of United Airlines. He was president of US Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines, later being promoted as CEO.
Early life and education
Kirby was raised in Rowlett, Texas, the oldest of six children. In high school, he played baseball and football, and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.{{cite news |last1=Natale |first1=Tony |title=A 'take charge' guy soars high |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/money/a-take-charge-guy-soars-high/article_37386d9c-66f6-5295-91c0-1e57af52c452.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=East Valley Tribune |date=April 29, 2007}} He received a bachelor's degree in computer science and operations research in 1989 from the United States Air Force Academy, where he trained to be a pilot. He later earned a master's degree in operations research at George Washington University.{{cite news |last1=Josephs |first1=Leslie |title=United Airlines' next CEO is a 'details guy' who will have labor contracts and the 737 Max on his plate |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/uniteds-new-ceo-faces-labor-talks-and-the-possible-return-of-the-737-max.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=CNBC |date=December 6, 2019}}
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.
Kirby joined America West Airlines in 1995,{{cite news |title=United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz to Step Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-airlines-names-president-scott-kirby-ceo-effective-in-may-11575553050 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Alison |last1=Sider |first2=Doug |last2=Cameron}} working in various executive roles.{{cite news |last1=Maxon |first1=Terry |title=Kirby and Goulet to lead American Airlines-US Airways planning for merger |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2013/02/25/kirby-and-goulet-to-lead-american-airlines-us-airways-planning-for-merger/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=February 25, 2013}} Kirby began as president of US Airways in September 2006,{{cite news |last1=Zumbach |first1=Lauren |title=New United CEO Scott Kirby is known as a 'details guy' who spent years prepping for the role, including at rival American Airlines |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-20191205-w53ivevtznbknljf6aqkdhzpja-story.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 5, 2019}}{{cite journal |title=US Airways names new president |journal=Phoenix Business Journal |date=September 29, 2006 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/09/25/daily49.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=American City Business Journals}} after it merged with America West in 2005.{{cite news |title=United's Kirby Gets Turn as an Airline CEO After Years as No. 2 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-05/united-airlines-names-kirby-ceo-as-munoz-moves-to-chairman |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Justin |last1=Bachman |first2=Mary |last2=Schlangenstein}} He led US Airways' team for planning the merger. Kirby became president of American Airlines after the company merged with US Airways in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Niraj |first1=Chokshi |title=United C.E.O. Munoz to Step Down, 5 Years After Leading Turnaround |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/business/united-ceo-oscar-munoz.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=December 5, 2019}} He and American Airlines CEO Doug Parker worked closely together at America West, US Airways, and American.{{cite news |title=Rival CEOs at American, United Share a Long History |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/friendly-skies-ceos-at-american-united-are-longtime-colleagues-turned-rivals-11575820801 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 8, 2019 |first1=Alison |last1=Sider |first2=Doug |last2=Cameron}}
Kirby became president of United Airlines in August 2016.{{cite news |last1=Jansen |first1=Bart |title=United hires president dropped by American |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/08/29/united-grabs-american-president/89556830/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=August 29, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Susan |title=American Airlines President Moves to United Continental |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-airlines-president-moves-to-united-continental-1472502904 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 29, 2016}} 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,{{cite news |title=United Airlines picks industry veteran Kirby for top job |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ual-ceo/united-airlines-picks-industry-veteran-kirby-for-top-job-idUSKBN1Y91KI |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=Reuters |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Rachit |last1=Vats |first2=Tracy |last2=Rucinski}} and restructuring hubs in Chicago, Denver, and Houston.{{cite journal |title=United Airlines' Plan to Beat Delta and American Could Lower Airfares for Everybody |journal=Fortune |date=January 29, 2018 |url=https://fortune.com/2018/01/29/scott-kirby-united-ceo-lower-airfare/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Bachman |first1=Justin |title=United's Kirby goes rogue with plan that may spur lower airfares |url=https://www.chron.com/business/article/United-s-Kirby-goes-rogue-with-plan-that-may-spur-12535238.php |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 29, 2018 |via=Bloomberg News}}
In December 2020, Kirby was elected as chairman of the Star Alliance chief executive board (CEB), succeeding former chairman Pedro Heilbron.{{cite news|title=Star Alliance Appoints United CEO Kirby as Board Chair|url=https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Global/Star-Alliance-Appoints-United-CEO-Kirby-as-Board-Chair|work=Business Travel News|first=Michael B.|last=Baker|date=December 11, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2021|language=en}}
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."{{cite news |last=Muller |first=Joann |url=https://www.axios.com/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby-vaccine-mandate-employees-b258f84b-7831-419c-b502-95f24f198707.html |title=United CEO: Mandating COVID vaccine was a no-brainer |work=Axios |date=2021-08-25 |accessdate=2021-08-25 }}
As of 2025, Kirby's compensation as CEO was $33.9 million.[https://ir.united.com/static-files/1cd01c71-9439-49e8-a521-4de417806938 2025 proxy statement]. United Airlines.
Personal life
Kirby is married and has seven children.{{Cite web|url=https://ir.united.com/corporate-governance/company-leadership/|title=Company Leadership - United Airlines Holdings, Inc}}{{cite news |last1=Bart |first1=Jansen |title=United exec Kirby says he's no stranger to flight delays or sitting in economy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/05/04/scott-kirby-understands-flight-frustrations/101295078/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=May 4, 2017}} He has donated money to both Republican and Democratic politicians, and donated to Steve Bullock's Presidential campaign in 2020.{{cite web |title=Scott Kirby - $8,350 in Political Contributions for 2016 |url=https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/scott-kirby.asp?cycle=16 |website=www.campaignmoney.com |accessdate=27 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1714864 J Scott Kirby] at Bloomberg.com
- [https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Interview-United-president-Scott-Kirby-13729013.php One-on-one with United president Scott Kirby] (March 31, 2019) by Chris McGinnis, San Francisco Chronicle
{{s-start}}
{{s-bus}}
{{s-bef|before=Robert Isom}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of United Airlines| years = 2016–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Brett J. Hart}}
{{s-bef|before=Oscar Munoz}}
{{s-ttl|title=CEO of United Airlines| years = 2020–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby, Scott}}
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:American airline chief executives
Category:American Airlines people