Bowers To Lead UAL Sales Effort

United Airlines' new executive vice president of strategy Doug Hacker today announced a new senior sales team, representing "a realignment of responsibilities within revenue-producing divisions."

Chris Bowers, formerly senior vice president of marketing and sales, assumed the title of senior vice president, sales and reservations. He will focus on "selling United's services and communicating its policies directly with United's corporate customers and travel agents."

Dan Walsh, formerly vice president of sales for the eastern region, becomes the carrier's sole vice president of sales, reporting to Bowers. His former co-vice presidents of sales, Frank Kent and Sean Donahue, are leaving the company. "Frank has been an invaluable contributor to United during his 35-year career and a real force in the industry," Hacker said.

Meanwhile, Scott Praven, formerly COO of United Loyalty Services, has been named senior vice president of marketing.

Separately, United today announced several other executive appointments, including Sara Fields, senior vice president of people services; Fran Maher, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary; and Rosemary Moore, senior vice president of corporate and government affairs. The company also said executive vice president and CFO Jake Brace will "have primary responsibility for our successful navigation of the process and work of Chapter 11, and the critical financial restructuring of the company."

United is continuing an external search for a new executive vice president of customer, who will encompass marketing, sales and reservations, international and alliances. Hacker in the interim will lead those efforts.