AZ Republic profile of Doug Parker: Man on a Merger Mission
Sep 18, 2005, 10:19 am
#1
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AZ Republic profile of Doug Parker: Man on a Merger Mission
From today's Arizona Republic:
Man on a merger mission
Caffeine, catnaps fueling AmWest CEO's frenzied quest
Dawn Gilbertson
The Arizona Republic
When he returned to his hotel room late Wednesday after dinner with Pittsburgh power brokers, Doug Parker turned on the Arizona Diamondbacks game and set his alarm for 5:30 a.m.
The CEO of America West Airlines wanted to get up early to work off the three-course meal and mouthwatering macaroons they served at the historic Duquesne Club.
The buzzer went off, but Parker didn't lace up his white-and-orange Saucony running shoes. He crawled back into bed for an hour.
Parker can be excused for hitting the snooze button. America West's pending merger with US Airways has turned him into a traveling salesman with a singular mission: Pitching the benefits of the deal.
The 43-year-old executive, who usually tries to be away from home no more than a few times a month for a night or two at most, has crisscrossed the country this summer to meet with employees, business and political leaders, analysts and the media - sometimes in one trip.
Last week saw him jetting from Tempe to New York City to Pittsburgh and back between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday night.
He's seen enough in-flight movies to give Monster-in-Law more stars than XXX: State of the Union and has a new appreciation for America West's frequent fliers.
Parker has had cause to run non-stop. He engineered the merger and will lead the new US Airways, a company with more than double the employees of America West and close to five times the annual revenue. It is the biggest bet of his career, a merger that promises to change forever what is normal for Parker. . .(More)
Caffeine, catnaps fueling AmWest CEO's frenzied quest
Dawn Gilbertson
The Arizona Republic
When he returned to his hotel room late Wednesday after dinner with Pittsburgh power brokers, Doug Parker turned on the Arizona Diamondbacks game and set his alarm for 5:30 a.m.
The CEO of America West Airlines wanted to get up early to work off the three-course meal and mouthwatering macaroons they served at the historic Duquesne Club.
The buzzer went off, but Parker didn't lace up his white-and-orange Saucony running shoes. He crawled back into bed for an hour.
Parker can be excused for hitting the snooze button. America West's pending merger with US Airways has turned him into a traveling salesman with a singular mission: Pitching the benefits of the deal.
The 43-year-old executive, who usually tries to be away from home no more than a few times a month for a night or two at most, has crisscrossed the country this summer to meet with employees, business and political leaders, analysts and the media - sometimes in one trip.
Last week saw him jetting from Tempe to New York City to Pittsburgh and back between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday night.
He's seen enough in-flight movies to give Monster-in-Law more stars than XXX: State of the Union and has a new appreciation for America West's frequent fliers.
Parker has had cause to run non-stop. He engineered the merger and will lead the new US Airways, a company with more than double the employees of America West and close to five times the annual revenue. It is the biggest bet of his career, a merger that promises to change forever what is normal for Parker. . .(More)
Sep 18, 2005, 3:36 pm
#3
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Parker has it easy doesn't he? I'd love to have any week as easy as what was laid out in the article.
No wonder the guy has no clue what FF business people value.
No wonder the guy has no clue what FF business people value.
Sep 18, 2005, 3:43 pm
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Originally Posted by KevAZ
Parker has it easy doesn't he? I'd love to have any week as easy as what was laid out in the article.
No wonder the guy has no clue what FF business people value.
No wonder the guy has no clue what FF business people value.
I was thinking the same thing when I read it. That's a pretty easy travel schedule. I just took it as being written by someone that has never had a truly difficult travel schedule though, no big deal. He should try always flying overnight through LAS when possible so he can spend more time with his family like I do. I still manage to get to work on Monday morning and work all day.
Sep 18, 2005, 5:09 pm
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Originally Posted by KevAZ
Parker has it easy doesn't he? I'd love to have any week as easy as what was laid out in the article.
It's too bad he didn't need to use his battery-drained laptop somewhere along the way!
Sep 18, 2005, 5:15 pm
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Originally Posted by AZ Travels the World
That's so funny -- I had exactly the same thought. For him, it was a brutal schedule. For many here, it would be a relatively relaxing week.
It's too bad he didn't need to use his battery-drained laptop somewhere along the way!
It's too bad he didn't need to use his battery-drained laptop somewhere along the way!
Lance
Sep 18, 2005, 5:35 pm
#7
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Think Parker has to call HP a day before his flights to get his upgrades manually cleared like I have to?
Sep 18, 2005, 6:54 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by CMK10
Think Parker has to call HP a day before his flights to get his upgrades manually cleared like I have to?
Sep 18, 2005, 7:05 pm
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I'd like to hear him comment on the hockey-breadsticks
It would be interesting to sit next to him on a plane. I'd figure out a plan to get the most constructive conversation with him for the duration of the flight to ensure I would bring back lots of excellent info back to FT.
It would be interesting to sit next to him on a plane. I'd figure out a plan to get the most constructive conversation with him for the duration of the flight to ensure I would bring back lots of excellent info back to FT.
Sep 18, 2005, 11:07 pm
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Originally Posted by CMK10
Think Parker has to call HP a day before his flights to get his upgrades manually cleared like I have to?
I'd figure out a plan to get the most constructive conversation with him for the duration of the flight to ensure I would bring back lots of excellent info back to FT.
Sep 19, 2005, 7:01 am
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Originally Posted by ByrdluvsAWACO
I wonder if DP has ever sat in Y for more than an hour long flight. Has he ever flown in HP's Y cabin at all?
Sep 20, 2005, 9:01 am
#12
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Originally Posted by snokums925
Yes he has! When DP flies on company business he is always in first, unless a last minute trip comes up and first is sold out. I have seen him on flights with his family and they are all in coach. He is a very down to earth person and will be a great leader for US.
