Michelle Beck - Palomar College

CHRISTOFF POPPE
+1- 312- 880-9633
11002 Cape Cod Lane - Huntley, IL 60142 - USA
cpoppe2011@kellogg.northwestern.edu
International Executive with twenty years of global professional experience at major airlines in field, corporate,
operational, commercial and strategic functions. Proven track record leading teams across functions, companies
and cultures to implement high-stake initiatives. Through business engagement with twenty international airlines
and their leadership attained a thorough understanding of different market dynamics, strategies and business
models. Native speaker of Spanish and English, knowledge of French and Portuguese. MBA from Top-5 U.S.
Business School. Lived in Ecuador, Panama, Spain, Argentina and U.S.
• Developed, implemented and managed the largest multi-party airline joint venture ($11B).
• Managed 20 bilateral partnerships involving 60% of the company’s alliance production. Launched eight
new partnerships increasing the alliance production by 18% per year and developed mature
partnerships increasing joint revenue by 8% per year and company’s profitability by 18% per year.
• Oversaw the Star Alliance strategy, business plan and budget ($8M) for eight years.
• Created first document verification system, innovation that received industry award.
Areas of Expertise
Business development Alliance management Strategic planning
Customer service & Operations Government policy & advocacy International negotiation
Sales, loyalty and pricing Risk management Project management
EXPERIENCE
UNITED AIRLINES - Chicago, IL
Director – Regulatory Policy April 2011 – present
Establish new Policy area in the International and Regulatory Affairs division responsible for developing the
company’s positions and strategy on high-impact US public policy regulations.
• Integrated United and Continental’s government and regulatory strategies into the company’s government
agenda and plan, following Board of Directors endorsement, oversee the plans’ execution.
• Implemented compliance plan to US DOT’s Enhanced Consumer Protection Rule (27 initiatives).
• Develop advocacy plans for major policy issues including taxation, market liberalization and infrastructure.
• Support company’s participation in the President Obama’s Export Council.
• Report regulatory and government risk exposure and mitigation planning to company’s Risk Committee.
General Manager Alliances – JV Partnerships, Europe & Star Alliance 2007 - 2011
Oversaw, with a team of direct and indirect reports, the Transatlantic joint venture (JV), other bilateral
partnerships (12), and the Star Alliance strategy and business planning process.
• Managed the United – Lufthansa JV commercial plan ($3.8B in revenues) including: review of market
conditions, market forecasts, measure JV performance reporting to JV’s leadership.
• Implemented the United-Continental alliance the pre-cursor to the merger of the two companies.
• Launched a four-party transatlantic joint venture: conducting the competitive benchmark that resulted in a
new multilateral joint venture structure, which was endorsed by four airline CEOs to form the largest airline
JV. Coordinated contract, governance and financial settlement negotiations, regulatory approvals and JV
rollout across six areas. Advised on arrangement to replicate in Asia, Canada and Latin America.
• Led the cross-functional implementation of the United-Continental aircraft redeployment initiative,
transferring operations between the two airlines under major operational and legal constraints.
Regional Manager Alliances - Europe, Middle East, Brazil & Star Alliance 2006 – 2007
• Led the team that attracted and launched the strategic alliance with Brazil’s TAM. Worked side-by-side with
TAM’s leadership team to develop the business case for application to Star Alliance.
• Led negotiations and implementations of three new partnerships in Europe and the Middle East.
• Oversaw, for United’s alliance leadership and CEO, the annual Star Alliance strategic and business plan.