oneworld
Nat Pieper
The oneworld alliance on Wednesday announced that airline industry veteran Nathaniel “Nat” Pieper has been appointed its new CEO.
Pieper, currently senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at oneworld member Alaska Airlines, will join the alliance in his new role April 1, according to a press release.
As CEO, Pieper will lead oneworld through its 25th anniversary celebration year. Pieper will report to the alliance’s Governing Board, comprised of the member airline CEOs.
“We are excited to welcome Nat Pieper into the role of CEO at oneworld and look forward to the alliance continuing its journey of innovation and collaboration under his leadership,” said Robert Isom, American Airlines CEO and oneworld alliance chairman, in a statement. “With more than 25 years of working in the industry, Nat has the experience to enhance oneworld’s position as the premier airline alliance, modernizing travel for millions of customers and oneworld frequent flyers.”
In his current position at Alaska Airlines, Pieper orchestrated the airline’s entrance into oneworld, executed aircraft transactions valued at more than $9 billion, and secured access to $5 billion in liquidity to ensure Alaska viability through the pandemic.
Pieper succeeds Rob Gurney, who stepped down last May.
Previously, Pieper held executive positions at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines overseeing international, strategic, alliance and financial functions.
“In my airline career, I have admired from afar and now experienced firsthand the influence and benefits the oneworld alliance brings to an airline and its customers,” said Pieper. “I am thrilled to join the oneworld family and look forward to working with all of the best-in-class carriers that are part of our alliance. The future of the oneworld alliance is bright and I am ready to continue to develop the alliance into its next 25 years.”
Pieper holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University and an MBA in finance, strategy, and transportation management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
In 2022, the oneworld alliance announced the relocation of its global headquarters from New York City to Fort Worth, joining founding member American Airlines at its 300-acre Robert L. Crandall campus near DFW International Airport.