American Names Devon May CFO

American Airlines SVP of finance and investor relations Devon May will become the company’s CFO, effective Jan. 1, 2023, the company announced Tuesday. May will replace Derek Kerr as part of what the carrier termed as a “long-planned succession process.”

Kerr will remain with American as vice chair, president of American Eagle and strategic advisor, and will continue to lead American’s regional and cargo teams, according to the company. American CEO Robert Isom in a statement called Kerr “quite simply the best CFO in the history of the airline industry,” and credited him for his role in the merger between American and US Airways as well as helping the carrier through the pandemic. 

May, who will report to Isom, joined American in 2013 upon the merger with US Airways. He had joined US Airways when that carrier in 2005 merged with America West Airlines, which he had joined in 2002. May’s positions across the three carriers centered on finance, operations, network planning, alliances and investor relations.

“Devon is the perfect person to lead our finance organization going forward as we continue to focus on achieving sustained profitability and reducing debt,” according to Isom.