Nathaniel Pieper is currently Chief Commercial Officer at American Airlines, effective November 2025.
At American, Nat is responsible for the airline's commercial strategy, customer experience, revenue, loyalty, co-branded credit card program, network planning, sales and distribution, marketing, alliances, and partnerships.
Nat most recently served as CEO of the oneworld alliance, where he integrated two new member airlines, launched sustainability and customer experience initiatives, and redefined the alliance's strategy to focus on premium experience, digital integration, and long-term structural success.
Prior to joining oneworld in April 2024, Nat was Senior Vice President – Fleet, Finance and Alliances & Treasurer for Alaska Air Group. Accomplishments in Nat’s Alaska tenure included securing $5 billion in liquidity to ensure viability through the pandemic, completion of multi-billion-dollar aircraft transactions, and leadership of Alaska’s entry into oneworld, including an economic partnership with American Airlines linking domestic and international flying.
Nat retired as a senior-level executive in June 2018 from Delta Air Lines after 20 years. His last role at Delta was Senior Vice President-Global Alliances. Based in Paris, Nat’s responsibilities included optimizing Delta’s industry-leading transatlantic joint ventures with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, and building Delta’s rapidly growing partnerships in China, India, and South Korea.
Nat previously held the position of Senior Vice President-Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India, also based in Paris, with responsibility for all commercial activities in the region. Delta achieved its highest-ever EMEAI customer and employee satisfaction ratings under Nat’s leadership. Nat also served on the Board of Directors for Virgin Atlantic from 2015 to 2018.
Prior to moving to Europe, Nat served as Vice President-Fleet Strategy and Transactions, responsible for all aircraft-related activities. Nat led a cross-functional team through nine multi-billion-dollar aircraft campaigns during this seven-year period.
Nat joined Delta’s management team in November 2008 following Delta’s merger with Northwest Airlines. Prior to assuming fleet responsibilities at Delta, Nat served as Vice President-Alliances for Northwest, accountable for the airline’s worldwide alliance strategy and relationships with its 28 global airline partners. His role included service as Vice Chairman of the SkyTeam airline alliance.
Nat started his airline career with Northwest in 1997, spending eight years in the finance department. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration in strategy, finance, and transportation management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
(September 2026)