Delta Air Lines has announced the
promotion of Nathaniel Pieper to the position of Senior Vice President
for Europe, Middle East and Africa effective in August 2015.
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| Nat Pieper, VP Fleet Strategy & Transactions |
He replaces Perry Cantarutti who will
leave Delta on secondment to the SkyTeam global airline alliance to
assume the position of Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director.
Pieper will have accountability for all
of Delta’s Europe, Middle East and Africa commercial activities,
including maximizing the long-term growth opportunities for Delta’s
joint venture agreement with Air France KLM and Alitalia – the
industry’s largest trans-Atlantic alliance – as well as the partnership
with Virgin Atlantic Airways. Pieper will report to Delta’s president,
Ed Bastian.
Delta’s president, Ed Bastian said
“Nat’s outstanding record of strategic fleet management, combined with
his experience of forging world-class partnerships, will keep Delta on
course for success on the trans-Atlantic, continuing the great work
achieved under Perry Cantarutti,”.
An aviation industry veteran with 18
years’ experience, Pieper was previously Delta’s Vice President of Fleet
Strategy and Transactions, responsible for strategy, analysis,
acquisition, disposition and investment in Delta’s 1300 mainline and
regional aircraft. Over the past five years, Delta has acquired more
than 400 aircraft as part of its fleet optimization strategy, during
which Pieper led seven aircraft acquisition campaigns.
Having joined Northwest Airlines’
Finance department in 1997, Pieper held a number of leadership roles at
Northwest including Vice President – Alliances, where he led Northwest’s
innovative trans-Atlantic joint venture with KLM. He also served as
Vice Chairman of SkyTeam.
Pieper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
in history from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration
degree in finance, strategy and transportation management from
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
