American Airlines Appoints New VP of Global Sales

American Airlines has promoted former VP of global talent and benefits Thomas Rajan to VP of global sales, BTN has learned. Rajan replaces Kyle Mabry, who has moved on to VP of operations and commercial for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and Asia Pacific. Each started their new positions as of Sept. 19 and report to chief customer officer Alison Taylor.

Rajan joined American in 2017. He has more than two decades of aviation experience at carriers including America West Airlines, US Airways and British Airways, as well as at Boeing and McKinsey & Co., according to American.

“[Rajan] has an extensive track record of leading complex change and transformational efforts,” Taylor and chief commercial officer Vasu Raja wrote in an internal memo. “He will be partnering closely with Jose Freig, VP of operations and commercial for Miami, Caribbean and Latin America, and Kyle Mabry on our worldwide sales strategy and implementation.”  

American global head of corporate sales Hank Benedetti now will report to Rajan, according to the carrier.

Mabry, who had assumed the VP of global sales position in January 2021, has been with American for nearly three decades. He previously had been global head of leisure, groups and middle market sales.

“[Mabry] successfully navigated the organization out of the pandemic and set the sales team firmly on the path toward achieving our Commercial 2025 vision,” according to the memo.