Area of Specialization Mr. O’Brien is an experienced practitioner of competitive strategy, analysis, and management across the major areas of commercial aviation. His primary focus is on performance enhancement through strategic alignment, matching company capabilities and strategy with the ability to reach and serve the target customer. His particular skills in aligning marketing and operating activities with overall corporate objectives have delivered success across clients, industries, and assignments. His blend of financial and commercial analysis has been successful in a number of due diligence and investment advisory engagements. He also provides considerable international expertise, with twelve years of living or working in Asia and three in the UK, as well as extensive marketing skills.
Client
Engagement
Hawaiian Airlines
Bankruptcy-exit strategic positioning; financial and fleet planning; transpacific code-share negotiations
GOL/Varig
Alliance assessment; FFP strategy
EgyptAir
Marketing strategy and process development
Middle East Carrier
Marketing processes redesign
Air Wisconsin
Strategic review of RJ market opportunities
Midwest Airlines
Product and strategy assignments (2002-2007)
Flight Options
Strategic pricing and business model review
US National Carrier
Financial planning and profitability analysis
Cerberus Capital
Operational reviews for successful exit-financing equity investment (2003, 2004) – Air Canada
Cerberus Capital
DIP financing/equity investment analysis – ATA
Rockwell Collins
IT/Communications new product development
Private Equity investor
Strategic review for contemplated DIP investment – US Airways
Private Equity investor
Strategic review and enterprise valuation – UAL
DAE Services
Market-entry strategy and M&A business case
US FAA
NextGen equipage financing case development
National Business Travel Association
Online fares database and benchmarking tool
Luxair
Strategic repositioning
Global Card Issuer
Analysis and support for airline program
Chicago DOA
Cargo carrier operations analysis
Spitfire Aviation
All-premium North Atlantic start-up plan
Background
Mr. O’Brien has held a range of management positions with Asian and U.S. airlines, particularly in international, marketing, and analytic roles. He was part of the private management staff for the Swire Group, working in various roles in Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways. At American Airlines he worked on Asian code-sharing alliances, sealing relationships with Singapore Airlines, China Eastern Airlines in Shanghai, and South Korea’s Asiana. He served Northwest Airlines as General Manager - Hong Kong, taking over immediately after the transition from colonial rule to Chinese sovereignty and guiding the carrier through the Asian economic crisis, overnight transfer to Hong Kong’s new airport, a pilots’ strike, and restructuring. He also brings marketing experience from agency positions at Ogilvy & Mather and Hill & Knowlton and has directed a successful internet start-up, based in London.
Education
Harvard MBA (1995) with distinction,
Harvard College (1986) Cum Laude
Languages
English, competent French, conversational Mandarin Chinese
