US Airways Group Inc. (LCC) Executive VP & CFO Derek J Kerr sells 107,415 Shares

[Hope777]

http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=110618

 

[CallawayGolf]

DK is a great CFO. He works hard and gets the results US needs to remain financially viable. Good for him.

 

[Dog Wonder]

GMc is a great Ramp Agent. He works hard and gets the results US needs to remain financially viable

 

[CallawayGolf]

GMc is a great Ramp Agent. He works hard and gets the results US needs to remain financially viable

And both get compensated for what they, their superiors, (or their bargaining agent) agreed their position was worth. It truly is a perfect system this supply and demand, free market, risk-reward capitalistic dream we choose to live under. Hey and both chose their respective career paths in this free country so, again, everything is as it should be. Glad to see we can indeed agree.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Back BEFORE we became "The Peoples Republic of Barackistan" Truth is any of us posting here had the opportunity to become Derek Kerr. Whether we had the DESIRE however is another story altogether, however we did possess the OPPORTUNITY and that folks is the keyword in all of this.

Derek Kerr seized his opportunity, the rest of us here, less so. Some of us have difficulty stepping over the metaphorical bodies that litter the corporate landscape along the rise to an office on Mahogany Row.

Some of us with what now seems to be an almost perverse set of morals, values & ethics rejected Mr Kerr's path. Mr Kerr went for the brass ring, most of us didn't. So why be angry at him for doing exactly what all of us would/should do?

Derek Kerr acted with enlightened self interest. All employees below him should remember this at contract time & act with the same enlightened self interest.

God Bless you Derek, may you reap what you have sown.

 

[cynic]

Was there something special about the end of July? Seems odd for them all to sell shares within a day or two, unless they were options or vested at that date.

 

[Dog Wonder]

And both get compensated for what .... their position was worth.

In the fantasy world of the haves.

 

[Non Rev]

He is only doing what other insiders are doing! My link

 

[BoeingBoy]

Was there something special about the end of July?

The stock went above $10/share at the end of July & first few days of August.

Jim

 

[ChockJockey]

"The Peoples Republic of Barackistan"

Derp.

Truth is any of us posting here had the opportunity to become Derek Kerr. Whether we had the DESIRE however is another story altogether, however we did possess the OPPORTUNITY and that folks is the keyword in all of this.

Under the same logic, we all had the opportunity to be astronauts and NASCAR racers and four-star generals. Don't confuse opportunity with ability.

Derek Kerr seized his opportunity, the rest of us here, less so. Some of us have difficulty stepping over the metaphorical bodies that litter the corporate landscape along the rise to an office on Mahogany Row.

You seem to be implying that just anybody can successfully fulfill the role of an airline CFO, and that the only real obstacle to doing so is a moral one. That doesn't stand to reason.

Some of us with what now seems to be an almost perverse set of morals, values & ethics rejected Mr Kerr's path. Mr Kerr went for the brass ring, most of us didn't. So why be angry at him for doing exactly what all of us would/should do?

Those morals, values, and ethics are perverse not in and of themselves but how you employ them to make judgments on others, a consolation when you see the work and achievements of others pay off for them.

Prior to joining America West, Kerr served in various financial planning and analysis positions with Northwest Airlines. Previously, Kerr was a flight test coordinator/control engineer with Northrop Corporation's B-2 Division. Kerr has a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Phoenix Zoo.

Wow it kind of looks like the dude worked hard, studied hard, remained focused and dedicated and now he's reaping the rewards. Sounds like the classic American success story to me. Looks like he's got a different set of values and morals and they're paying off big time.

I think it's funny how many people would banish such executive incentives on principle without giving nary a thought to whether or not they actually work. If the hopes of a big cashout inspires Mr. Kerr to excel in his job duties which include:

corporate finance, financial planning and analysis, accounting, information technology, purchasing and investor relations functions

thereby making this airline more resilient, competitive, stable and capable, and thus giving me some peace of mind in my job security, then I'm all for it. As much as I'd like to see a Barackastanish redistribution of Comrade Kerr's bonus into the paychecks of the proletarian vanguard, I must begrudgingly accept the reality that Mr. Kerr et al have steered this airline through some very rough waters (though not without casualties) and have come out of with a more robust and valuable company. Any y'all think seriously think you could have done as well or better as CFO let's hear it. $1.9 billion market capitalization? Achieving this can't be all that different from stacking bags and serving beverages can it?

This is not to say I necessarily approve of the culture or methods of corporate America or the scads of scandals execs have gotten away with in the last few decades, but I also don't think every single kind of executive non-salary bonuses and compensation should be automatically decried as excessive and unfair. I personally find the khaki jungle to be pathetically boring and depressing; a landscape of sociopathic sycophants and pale osteoperotic elitists and hangers on, souls faded from the high-speed flickering of bulk-ordered fluorescent lights.

Derek Kerr acted with enlightened self interest. All employees below him should remember this at contract time & act with the same enlightened self interest.

Exactly. None should ever forget the skill and will of our executives when the times come for negotiations and they are brought to bear against the organized work groups. This example highlights the importance of solidarity, support, and involvement. You may be quick to dismiss them as fools and immoralists but never underestimate their desire to take from you what you have earned and fought for and place it in the "profit" column for distribution to the banks, shareholders, hedge funds, and yes, executive pockets.

Stop confusing the issue with petty morality. The nature of the business and the nature of the industry demands shrewd and calculating and sometimes ruthless leadership. There are no risks without potential losses. There are no painless changes. Feelgoodness is a secondary concern when trying to compete as a stand-alone carrier in the current field of competition.

Just as they are miserly and incompassionate in wishing to take and ask concessions from organized labor, we must be as strongly adamant and even greedy in what we wish to keep and what we wish to have. It is a fallacy to dress it up in terms of what is "fair" or "right" or "deserved". It is a battle of wills, and nothing else.

 

[freedom]

i think now is a VERY good time to cash out , and i'd like to see the other exec's follow Derek Kerr example .....

don't be left standing when the music stops ...

 

[ebwgs]

Derp.



Under the same logic, we all had the opportunity to be astronauts and NASCAR racers and four-star generals. Don't confuse opportunity with ability.



You seem to be implying that just anybody can successfully fulfill the role of an airline CFO, and that the only real obstacle to doing so is a moral one. That doesn't stand to reason.



Those morals, values, and ethics are perverse not in and of themselves but how you employ them to make judgments on others, a consolation when you see the work and achievements of others pay off for them.



Wow it kind of looks like the dude worked hard, studied hard, remained focused and dedicated and now he's reaping the rewards. Sounds like the classic American success story to me. Looks like he's got a different set of values and morals and they're paying off big time.

I think it's funny how many people would banish such executive incentives on principle without giving nary a thought to whether or not they actually work. If the hopes of a big cashout inspires Mr. Kerr to excel in his job duties which include:


thereby making this airline more resilient, competitive, stable and capable, and thus giving me some peace of mind in my job security, then I'm all for it. As much as I'd like to see a Barackastanish redistribution of Comrade Kerr's bonus into the paychecks of the proletarian vanguard, I must begrudgingly accept the reality that Mr. Kerr et al have steered this airline through some very rough waters (though not without casualties) and have come out of with a more robust and valuable company. Any y'all think seriously think you could have done as well or better as CFO let's hear it. $1.9 billion market capitalization? Achieving this can't be all that different from stacking bags and serving beverages can it?

This is not to say I necessarily approve of the culture or methods of corporate America or the scads of scandals execs have gotten away with in the last few decades, but I also don't think every single kind of executive non-salary bonuses and compensation should be automatically decried as excessive and unfair. I personally find the khaki jungle to be pathetically boring and depressing; a landscape of sociopathic sycophants and pale osteoperotic elitists and hangers on, souls faded from the high-speed flickering of bulk-ordered fluorescent lights.



Exactly. None should ever forget the skill and will of our executives when the times come for negotiations and they are brought to bear against the organized work groups. This example highlights the importance of solidarity, support, and involvement. You may be quick to dismiss them as fools and immoralists but never underestimate their desire to take from you what you have earned and fought for and place it in the "profit" column for distribution to the banks, shareholders, hedge funds, and yes, executive pockets.

Stop confusing the issue with petty morality. The nature of the business and the nature of the industry demands shrewd and calculating and sometimes ruthless leadership. There are no risks without potential losses. There are no painless changes. Feelgoodness is a secondary concern when trying to compete as a stand-alone carrier in the current field of competition.

Just as they are miserly and incompassionate in wishing to take and ask concessions from organized labor, we must be as strongly adamant and even greedy in what we wish to keep and what we wish to have. It is a fallacy to dress it up in terms of what is "fair" or "right" or "deserved". It is a battle of wills, and nothing else.