United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz Recovering Well

United Airlines has announced that Oscar Munoz, the company’s president and CEO, is currently recovering well following the heart transplant he received on 6 January 2016.

Dr. Duc Pham, MD, Director of the Northwestern Medicine Heart Transplant Program, said, “The surgical team was quite pleased with how the procedure went. The patient's early course has been excellent, and the transplanted heart is functioning very well. We are very optimistic about his prospects for a complete recovery.”

Oscar is expected to return from his previously announced medical leave at the end of the first quarter, or the beginning of the second quarter of 2016.

In a letter to employees on 5 November 2015, Oscar stated that he expected to return full time in the first quarter of 2016.  Brett J. Hart will continue as the acting CEO until Oscar’s return.

Since his heart attack on 15 October 2015, Oscar has been progressing well, with the assistance of an implanted medical device. A transplant was considered to be preferable to long-term reliance on the implanted device and was not the result of a setback in his recovery. Oscar had been cleared to return to work prior to the transplant. Since early December, Oscar had been gradually resuming company-related activities in collaboration with Hart, visiting with employees and participating in meetings at the company’s headquarters.

“We wish Oscar well as he progresses on his road to recovery, and we look forward to his expected return,” said Henry L. Meyer III, non-executive chairman of the board of directors. “We take comfort in the prognosis for Oscar's full recovery, based both on the report from his medical team and what we have learned about transplants from our own consulting cardiologist. We will, of course, be monitoring Oscar's progress closely and both his and the board's focus will be on the best interests of our shareholders. In the meantime, the board is working closely with Brett and the full executive team to continue delivering on our commitments to customers and employees.” 

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