Board of Directors
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Edward M. Philip
Edward M. Philip
Former Chief Operating Officer of Partners in HealthMr. Philip served as the Chief Operating Officer of Partners in Health, a global non-profit healthcare organization, responsible for overseeing the operations of the Partners in Health projects globally including in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Haiti, from 2013 to 2017. Previously he served as Special Partner of Highland Consumer Fund, a consumer-oriented investment fund, from 2013 to 2017 and as Managing Partner from 2006 to 2013. Mr. Philip was one of the founding members of the internet search company Lycos, Inc. During his time with Lycos, Mr. Philip held the positions of President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at different times. Prior to joining Lycos, Mr. Philip spent time as the Vice President of Finance for The Walt Disney Company and also previously spent a number of years in investment banking. He currently serves on the board of directors of Hasbro, Inc., BRP Inc. and Experience Investment Corp. Mr. Philip received a BS in Economics and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Philip has served as the Non-Executive Chairman of the United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors since May 2021.
Financial ExpertIndependent Director -
Carolyn Corvi
Carolyn Corvi
Retired Vice President and General Manager – Airplane Programs, The Boeing CompanyMs. Corvi served as Vice President and General Manager – Airplane Programs, of Boeing Commercial Airplanes of The Boeing Company. In her 34 years at Boeing, Ms. Corvi served in various management positions, including Vice President and General Manager of 737/757 Programs and Vice President of Aircraft Systems and Interiors, among other roles. She currently serves on the board of directors of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
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Matthew Friend
Matthew Friend
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, NIKE, Inc.Mr. Friend is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for NIKE, Inc. Prior to his current role, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Nike Operating Segments and Vice President of Investor Relations. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of the Nike Brand, including all of Nike’s externally reported operating segments, and Chief Financial Officer, Global Brands & Functions, including the Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Friend served as Chief Financial Officer of Nike’s Emerging Markets operating segment, including Latin America, Africa, and most of Asia.
Prior to his operational roles, Mr. Friend served as Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development, with responsibility for managing the global strategic planning function. Prior to joining Nike in 2009, Mr. Friend worked in the financial services industry for over a decade, including roles as Vice President of investment banking and mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. He advised on numerous transactions across the media, telecom, and technology industries.
Mr. Friend is a member of Nike’s Executive Leadership Team and is the senior management representative to the Audit & Finance Committee of the Nike, Inc. Board of Directors. He also serves as an executive sponsor of the Women of Nike Employee Group. He is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. Friend has served on the United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors since December 2021, and is a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committees.Financial Expert -
Barney Harford
Barney Harford
Former Chief Operating Officer of Uber Technologies, Inc.Mr. Harford served as Chief Operating Officer of Uber Technologies, Inc. from 2018 to 2019. As COO, he was responsible for the company’s global ride-sharing business, leading operations, strategy, marketing, customer support, safety and insurance in over 60 countries, and for the company's food-delivery business, Uber Eats. Previously, Mr. Harford served as CEO and a director of Orbitz Worldwide from 2009 to 2015. During Mr. Harford’s tenure, Orbitz Worldwide achieved strategic success in mobile, developing award-winning apps for iOS and Android; launched Orbitz Rewards; and built the Orbitz Partner Network into a leading provider of private label travel solutions to partners in the airline, hotel, travel agency and bank loyalty industries. Prior to Orbitz Worldwide, Mr. Harford served in a variety of roles at Expedia, Inc. from 1999 to 2006, including as President of Expedia Asia Pacific from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Harford previously served on the board of directors of Lola, LiquidPlanner, Inc., eLong, Inc., Crystal Orange Hotel Group (formerly Mandarin Hotel Holdings) and GlobalEnglish Corporation. Mr. Harford holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master of Arts in Natural Sciences from Clare College, Cambridge University. -
Michele J. Hooper
Michele J. Hooper
President and CEO, The Directors’ CouncilMs. Hooper is President and CEO of The Directors’ Council, which consults with corporate boards to increase their independence, effectiveness and diversity. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Voyager Expanded Learning from 1999 to 2000, and of Stadtlander Drug Company, Inc. from 1998 to 1999. Prior to joining Stadtlander, Ms. Hooper served as Corporate Vice President of Caremark International Inc. and President of Caremark’s International Business Group, responsible for the expansion of Caremark into Europe, Canada and Japan. She began her career at Baxter International and was President of Baxter Canada, Canada’s largest health care and laboratory supplies company.
With more than 25 years of corporate board experience, Ms. Hooper is an audit committee financial expert with over 20 years of experience chairing the audit committees of several major companies. In 2017, she was selected as the Director of the Year by the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Hooper currently serves on the board of directors of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. Ms. Hooper earned an MBA in Finance and Accounting at the University of Chicago and a BA in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson
Professor of History, Tulane University, and Advisory Partner, Perella Weinberg PartnersMr. Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane University and an Advisory Partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, a financial services firm based in New York City. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Aspen Institute, an international education and leadership studies institute, from 2003 to 2018. Mr. Isaacson previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CNN from 2001 to 2003 and as the editor of Time Magazine from 1994 to 2001. He is the author of several books, including biographies of Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein.
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Richard Johnsen
Richard Johnsen
Chief of Staff to the International President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace WorkersMr. Johnsen has served as the representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”) to the UAL Board since July 2021. Mr. Johnsen has served as the IAM Chief of Staff to the International President since February 2021. Mr. Johnsen began his IAM career in Local 1781 as a Mechanic Assistant for United Airlines in 1988 and was promoted to Mechanic in 1990.
Mr. Johnsen served in many positions at the local and district level and was appointed as Assistant General Chairperson for District 141M in 2000, then as a Grand Lodge Special Representative in 2001. Mr. Johnsen served as a Transportation Department Grand Lodge Representative and has been an IAM member for more than 31 years. Mr. Johnsen also served as the IAM Representatives Association (IAMRA) President from 2017-2021.
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James A. C. Kennedy
James A. C. Kennedy
Former President and Chief Executive Officer of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.Mr. Kennedy served as President and Chief Executive Officer of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a global investment management organization which provides mutual funds, sub-advisory services and institutional asset management, from 2007 to 2015. During his tenure, T. Rowe more than doubled its assets under management, which increased from $335 billion at the end of 2006 to $763 billion as of December 31, 2015. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2006, Mr. Kennedy served in roles of increasing responsibility at T. Rowe since 1978. Mr. Kennedy currently serves on the board of directors of Columbia Care Inc. Mr. Kennedy graduated from Princeton University with a BA degree and Stanford University with an MBA. He is a recipient of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Excellence in Leadership Award. -
Scott Kirby
Scott Kirby
Chief Executive Officer, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.Mr. Kirby is chief executive officer of United Airlines. He served as the company’s president from 2016 to 2020 and was responsible for United’s operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management. As president, he played a pivotal role in enabling United’s cultural transformation and executing the Company’s strategic growth plan. Elected in December 2020, Mr. Kirby serves as the Chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Mr. Kirby is also a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors.
Prior to joining United, Mr. Kirby was president of American Airlines from 2013 to 2016 and president of US Airways from 2006 to 2013. He is a well-known industry veteran, with a broad and accomplished three-decade-long career in significant leadership roles within the airline industry. Mr. Kirby started his career at the Pentagon and in the technology sector.
Mr. Kirby has bachelor’s degrees in computer science and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in operations research from George Washington University. He is married and has seven children.
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Edward L. Shapiro
Edward L. Shapiro
Former Managing Partner, PAR Capital Management, Inc.Mr. Shapiro served as Managing Partner of PAR Capital Management, Inc., a Boston-based investment management firm specializing in investments in travel, media and Internet-related companies, from 1999 to 2016. Prior to joining PAR Capital, Mr. Shapiro was a Vice President at Wellington Management Company, and before that an Analyst at Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Shapiro previously served on the board of directors of Global Eagle Entertainment, US Airways, Web.com, Lumexis Corporation and Sonifi Solutions (formerly LodgeNet Interactive Corporation). Mr. Shapiro earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
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Captain Garth Thompson
Captain Garth Thompson
Chair of the ALPA Master Executive CouncilCaptain Thompson has served as the representative of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (“ALPA”) to the UAL Board since January 2023, when he was elected as the Chair of the ALPA Master Executive Council (the “MEC”). Capt. Thompson has been a pilot for United Airlines for more than 30 years and is currently a Denver-based pilot for Airbus 320 aircraft. He had been serving as a local ALPA council representative before his election as Chair of the MEC. His past ALPA service also includes the MEC-level Regional Carrier Review, Merger, and National Affairs Steering committees. -
Laysha Ward
Laysha Ward
Executive Vice President & Chief External Engagement Officer, Target CorporationMs. Ward has served as the Executive Vice President, Chief External Engagement Officer for Target since 2017, overseeing the company’s enterprise-wide approach to engage and deepen cross-sector stakeholder relations to drive positive business and community impact. With 30 years of leadership experience at Target, Ms. Ward began her career in 1991 as a member of the Marshall Field’s Chicago team. Ms. Ward was named Director of Community Relations in 2000 and promoted to Vice President of Community Relations and Target Foundation in 2003. Prior to her current role, Ms. Ward served as Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer.
Ms. Ward serves on the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Advisory Board and the Stanford Center for Longevity Advisory Council; is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the Economic Clubs of New York and Chicago, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links; and serves on the boards of Greater MSP, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Northside Achievement Zone, and Denny’s Corporation for-profit board of directors. Ms. Ward received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Ms. Ward has served on the United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors since February 2021.
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James M. Whitehurst
James M. Whitehurst
President, International Business Machines CorporationMr. Whitehurst has served as President of IBM since April 2020. He previously served as Senior Vice President of IBM and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hat, Inc., a leading provider of open source enterprise IT products and services, from 2019 until April 2020, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hat from 2008 to 2019. Prior to Red Hat, Mr. Whitehurst served in several roles at Delta Air Lines, Inc. including as Chief Operating Officer from 2005 to 2007, where he managed airline operations and drove significant international expansion, as Chief Network and Planning officer from 2004 to 2005 and as Senior Vice President, Finance Treasury and Business Development from 2002 to 2004. Before Delta, Mr. Whitehurst held several corporate development leadership roles at The Boston Consulting Group, with clients across a wide range of industries. Mr. Whitehurst previously served on the board of directors of Red Hat, SecureWorks Corp. and DigitalGlobe, Inc. In June 2015, Mr. Whitehurst published a book with Harvard Business Review Press entitled "The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance" showing how open principles of management, based on transparency, participation, and community, can help organizations navigate and succeed in a fast-paced connected era. He is a graduate of Rice University with a BA in Computer Science and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Contact United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board
Shareholders and other interested parties may contact the United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors as a whole, or any individual member, by one of the following means: (1) writing to the Board of Directors, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., c/o the Corporate Secretary’s Office, Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606; or (2) by emailing the Board of Directors at UALBoard@united.com.