FORT WORTH, Texas, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Will Ris,
senior vice president – Government Affairs for American Airlines,
has announced he intends to retire at the end of this year after
nearly 20 years with the airline.
"Will's impact on American Airlines has been immeasurable," said
American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug
Parker. "He has been the voice of American and its people in
Washington, D.C., for nearly 20
years. He has represented us extraordinarily well because he
understands commercial aviation and cares about the professional
people who work in the business. We are extremely disappointed to
know that Will has decided to retire, but he most certainly has
earned it. We wish him and Nancy only the best.
"Representative of his dedication to American and its people,
Will has agreed to stay with American until year-end to continue to
lead some important ongoing initiatives and help us develop a
transition plan. We are very grateful for that commitment. Will Ris
embodies all of the things that are great about American Airlines
and thanks to people like him, American Airlines will be great for
years to come."
"It has been a genuine honor to serve the men and women of
American Airlines over the course of my career," Ris said. "I
marvel at the fact that each and every day these incredible
individuals make it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to
travel safely across oceans and continents, enriching lives and
making our world more connected. Together, the current
employees and those who worked tirelessly before them have built a
platform for the future that is stronger than I have ever seen in
my career.
"Looking back, it has also been a delight to work with so
many capable and passionate government officials and policy
makers over the years. These individuals have had a huge
impact on our industry and will continue to shape the future
of aviation.
"And finally, I am especially grateful to
Doug Parker and the leaders at
American who have such a powerful vision for the future
and who will continue to navigate the path forward for
American. I am incredibly privileged to have participated
in American's amazing story."
An attorney with broad experience in government and
transportation, Ris has been American's principal Government
Affairs executive since July 1996. He
is responsible for directing all activities on behalf of American
with Congress, the administration and a broad range of federal
agencies. In 2001, he led the effort to protect the domestic
aviation industry, assure the continued viability of passenger
service and establish new security measures. More recently, he
helped lead the effort to gain public and political support for the
merger between American and US Airways, which created a strong,
competitive airline with more than 100,000 employees worldwide.
Prior to joining American in 1996, Ris was executive vice
president for the Wexler Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government relations
firm, where he represented American as outside counsel for 13
years. He also served as a trial attorney for the United States
Civil Aeronautics Board and was appointed counsel to the U.S.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and its
Aviation Subcommittee. In 1978, he was the principal Senate legal
counsel for the drafting of the airline deregulation
legislation.
Well-respected in Washington,
D.C., and known for his commitment to community service, Ris
serves as chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Green
Door, Inc., a nationally recognized organization that provides
services for chronically mentally ill persons. He is also a member
of the board of governors of Ford's Theater in Washington, the board of directors of the
American Association of People with Disabilities and the board of
trustees for the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington.
Ris will remain active with American through Dec. 31, 2015, and will continue to lead the
airline's efforts on several key initiatives, including FAA
reauthorization and the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies.
American will use the period until year-end to develop a transition
plan and long-term strategy for its Government Affairs
department.
About American Airlines
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for
American Airlines and US Airways. Together with regional partners,
operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines
operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350
destinations in more than 50 countries. American is a founding
member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and
members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily
flights to 150 countries. This year American topped Fortune
Magazine's list of best business turnarounds and its stock joined
the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on
Twitter @AmericanAir and
at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
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SOURCE American Airlines