Name: Rob Gurney
Title: CEO
Company, city: oneworld; New York, N.Y.
Number of employees: 25 at oneworld; 400,000 across our member airlines
Recent project: I started in this role in October 2016 and have been reviewing the business with fresh perspectives. My focus is on modernizing our offerings and better leveraging digital capabilities as airlines evolve.
First job: My grandfather was an entrepreneur, and my first job was working in his betting shops.
Little-known fact about you: I’m an animal lover, I support animal charities and I enjoy surfing.
Your Business
What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years? I expect the industry to continue connecting people with technology in more meaningful ways. The trend will move away from purely transactional interactions toward richer, more genuine experiences that enhance travel and customer engagement.
Best career advice you’ve received: Never underestimate the knowledge and capabilities you build over time. Have confidence in what you bring to the table and find joy in the work you do.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? No experience is wasted. Every skill you acquire increases your value. Aspiring CEOs should cultivate a wide-ranging understanding of the business so they can make informed decisions across functions.
Rob Gurney as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story: While on a walking holiday in Italy I photographed a missing-dog notice. Later in a park I discovered the dog hiding under a bush, carried it to safety and reunited it with its owners. It was a simple moment that left a lasting impression.
One travel tip you cannot live without: Travel with carry-on only. Unpack shirts and steam them in the bathroom to keep them fresh and wrinkle-free.
Best advice for business travelers: Same as above: carry-on only. And when possible, choose a oneworld member airline to benefit from our network and services.
About oneworld
Oneworld turned 18 in 2017; what can we expect from the alliance in the lead-up to its 20th birthday? As we approach our third decade, we are re-evaluating the alliance’s value proposition and digital offerings. We are exploring ways to refresh the brand’s personality and make our services more seamless and rewarding for customers. We are also examining opportunities for smaller regional carriers to join, broadening our network while maintaining quality.
The alliance continues to win accolades. What makes oneworld an award-winning alliance? The strength of our member airlines is the primary reason. Each carrier drives innovation in its own way, from enhanced onboard dining and connectivity to bold route development. Our role is to highlight those achievements and ensure customers understand the benefits of flying with our members.
What are the recent enhancements to oneworld events, the one-stop service for planning meetings and events? We continually improve the alliance ecosystem to support customers and partners. Recent updates to oneworld events include lowering the passenger threshold to 50 and enhancing incentive structures to make planning and execution simpler and more attractive.
Tell our readers about the various ’round-the-world options. Round-the-world fares remain one of our best-value products and the alliance’s most successful fare offering. We continually review our product suite to determine where to expand and how to better communicate options to customers. Our goal is to be proactive in matching product choices to customer needs and ensuring travelers understand the flexibility and savings available through our network.