The Oneworld Alliance has named airline industry veteran Nathaniel Pieper as its new CEO. Currently serving as senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Oneworld member Alaska Airlines, he will join the airline network in his new role on April 1.

As CEO, according to the announcement, Pieper will lead Oneworld through its 25th anniversary celebration year and focus on strengthening the alliance among its partners to provide customers an exceptional and seamless travel experience around the world. He will report to the alliance’s governing board, comprising the member airline CEOs.

In his current position at Alaska Airlines, Pieper orchestrated the carrier’s entrance into Oneworld, executed aircraft transactions valued at over $9 billion and secured access to $5 billion in liquidity to ensure Alaska’s viability through the pandemic. Previously, Pieper held executive positions at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines overseeing international, strategic, alliance and financial functions.

Pieper said that in his airline career he has admired from afar and now experienced firsthand the influence and benefits the Oneworld alliance brings to an airline and its customers. “The future of the Oneworld alliance is bright,” he said, “and I am ready to continue to develop the alliance into its next 25 years.”

Image: Shutterstock