McDonald handed operating portfolio
After 33 years at United Airlines running a variety of its operations and sales organisations, Pete McDonald has been named executive vice-president responsible for all operational divisions at the carrier.
McDonald became the carrier's most senior executive in the area following the resignation of chief operating officer Andrew Studdert in September when United's new chief executive Glenn Tilton came on board. McDonald most recent post was senior vice-president airport operations.
He has worked his way up from the bottom, having joined United as a part-time baggage handler at Chicago O'Hare in 1969 while studying at college. He progressed to running United's Denver hub and overseeing the transition from Stapleton to the new Denver International, and all the associated troubles with that airport's sophisticated baggage system, in 1993. He also led United's sales, marketing and airport operations in southern California before moving back to Chicago as vice-president operations services. For the past year he has led the carrier's domestic operations at its 85 airports across the USA.
Source: Airline Business
