Derek L. DeCross

In August 2010, Derek L. DeCross was named Vice President of Global Sales for American Airlines. In this position he is responsible for leading American’s sales team and for developing all sales and distribution policies worldwide. He also leads American’s relationships with corporate customers and travel agencies.

Previously, DeCross was President – AAdvantage^® Marketing Programs, responsible for overseeing all aspects of AAdvantage activities worldwide. AAdvantage was the world’s first frequent flyer program and today has more than 67 million members and nearly 950 award destinations across the globe. Prior to his position in AAdvantage, DeCross served as Managing Director of American’s Interactive Marketing Department. In that position, he led all facets of marketing associated with AA.com, American Airlines Vacations and Customer Relationship Management strategies, including travel product strategy, e-mail communications, online content, search engine marketing and optimization, web analytics and website monetization.

DeCross joined American as an analyst in the Revenue Management Department in 1996 and has since held numerous positions in Revenue Management, Sales, Marketing and Finance. He previously served as Managing Director of Airline Profitability and Financial Analysis, where he was responsible for the evaluation of American’s network and business segments, competitive analysis, labor analysis, and financial analysis of strategic and operating decisions. As Managing Director of Domestic Pricing, DeCross was responsible for American’s and American Eagle’s published and Internet pricing throughout the United States and Canada, which represents more than $10 billion in annual revenue.

DeCross holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, as well as the Board of Directors for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Derek lives in Colleyville, Texas, with his wife, Ranea, and their four children.