American Airlines has announced that Art Torno, Senior Vice President Ð International and Cargo, has decided to retire in April after 38 years with the airline. With Mr TornoÕs retirement, Jim Butler will assume the role of Senior Vice President Ð International and Cargo and will report to Kerry Philipovitch, Senior Vice President Ð Customer Experience.
ÒDuring ArtÕs long career with American, he has helped establish the airline as a leading international carrier,Ó said Doug Parker, American AirlinesÕ Chairman and CEO. ÒHis leadership and vision have been instrumental in supporting our people and strengthening our presence around the world.
ÒAmerican Airlines is a better place because of Art Torno, and all of us who have worked with him are better people. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.Ó
Mr Torno joined American in 1979 as a flight attendant and has held numerous leadership positions, including Vice President Ð New York, Vice President Ð Caribbean and Latin American Operations, and Vice President Ð Miami.
From 2012 to 2015, Mr Torno served as Senior Vice President Ð Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, overseeing the airlineÕs operations in more than 80 cities in the region. In 2015, Mr Torno was promoted to Senior Vice President Ð International and Cargo. In this role, he leads AmericanÕs international operations, which include more than 400 daily flights to more than 110 destinations, as well as the airlineÕs Cargo business.
His replacement Mr Butler has been with the airline for 21 years and most recently served as President Ð American Airlines Cargo, a position that heÕs held since 2013. In this role, Mr Butler has helped strengthen CargoÕs contribution to the airline and successfully led CargoÕs integration process, becoming the first operation at American to fully merge.
During his career at American heÕs worked in several departments including Sales, Marketing, Pricing and Finance, and has also held positions internationally in London and Buenos Aires. Prior to his current role he served as Managing Director Ð Commercial Planning and Performance.
Mr Butler is a graduate of Cornell University and received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
ÒAs the leader of American Airlines Cargo, Jim understands the importance and the value of our unrivaled international network and the passion and enthusiasm of AmericanÕs people around the globe,Ó said Mr Philipovitch. ÒJimÕs experience, leadership and commitment make him the ideal leader to build on ArtÕs legacy of supporting our fantastic global team and delivering the best experience to our international customers, while continuing his efforts to further the growth of our Cargo business.Ó
