Ex-executive vice president and chief financial officer of FedEx, John Dietrich, has been elected to American Airlines’ board of directors.
Dietrich, who has 35 years of experience in the aviation and air cargo industries, will serve on the board’s Audit Committee and Finance Committee.
He most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of FedEx Corporation from 2023 to June this year.
He led the company’s global finance organisation and helped advance initiatives focused on efficiency, cost discipline and long-term value creation.
FedEx announced in April that Dietrich would step down from his roles upon successful completion of the spin-off of FedEx Freight into a new publicly traded company.
Prior to joining FedEx, Dietrich spent more than two decades at Atlas Air Worldwide, where he held numerous senior leadership roles, including president and chief executive and member of the board of directors.
He was appointed president of Atlas in 2019 and previously served as chief operational officer, with responsibility for all aspects of the company’s global operations.
Earlier in his career, Dietrich served as general counsel for Atlas and spent more than a decade at United Airlines, the majority of the time as an attorney.
American Airlines’ chairman Greg Smith said: “John possesses a distinguished professional background and a proven track record over his 35 years of aerospace leadership.
“His extensive experience — coupled with his reputation and success in managing complex, capital-intensive operations as well as his insights into financial discipline, risk management and governance — will significantly enhance the board’s capabilities as we prioritise long-term performance and shareholder value.”
Robert Isom, chief executive of American, commented: “John has a deep understanding of our industry and a proven ability to connect operational performance with financial results.
“His experience leading global aviation and cargo businesses — and his focus on execution and accountability — will be a valuable addition to our board.”
Dietrich currently serves as chairman of the National Defense Transportation Association and on the boards of AAR Corporation and First Horizon Corporation.
He is also a former member and chairman of the National Air Carrier Association and a former member of the International Air Transport Association Board of Governors.
