Last September Jeff Smisek stepped down as United CEO, following the scandal involving the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Smisek was replaced by Oscar Munoz, who seems like a good guy who genuinely wants to change United for the better. Unfortunately Munoz suffered a heart attack about a month…
Continue reading: United CEO Undergoes Heart Transplant
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This guy gets privacy and anything specific to his own condition is covered by HIPAA, absolute confidentiality. I would say it's even improper to ask, it's more than just prying.
That said and general experience in cardiac transplantation is it's a big deal. You're right, less than three months to go in the quarter and it's a longshot that he'll be back in any meaningful way. He could rejoin the United team in some kind of an advisory role, but I highly doubt he could be involved in the senior leadership of an important carrier. United management is being less than honest with the public by not simply disclosing their permanent transition plan and keeping a seat at the table open for Oscar in the future.
Serious health events are unfortunate and a real trauma for those close to the person involved, however a corporation is a separate entity and must live it's own life separate from any single individual. They're lucky oil is cheap and shareholders are looking other way while profits soar but their loyal frequent fliers look for any other possible choice other than United.
Senior management needs to step up and do the right thing for the company, for its employees, and its customers.
@Ben, This might be a good opportunity to remind your readers of the importance of organ donation: "The Gift of Life." www.organdonor.gov
Your post is PR levels of kind. This guy won't be the CEO of United. I'm sure he will do great things in life but United needs to move on and get its ship worked out
Wow. A transplant. This guy was never on the road to recovery then really. That's a massive massive heart attack to necessitates heart transplant. That means he's been sick for months and recovery from a transplant is a whole other deal. I wish him well but United could face criticism for not being transparent about their CEO.
Fdw
Yes, a very big deal. This takes a guy with the life expectancy of no more than a few weeks and give him an average 12 years, potential he longer given that he probably has access to the best care, is highly motivated, and will be very compliant. The recovery time frame is highly dependent on the condition of all his other body organs, decides his heart. If in good shape, then the timeframe laid out in this article is very reasonable. It is our expectation that patients return to live a productive life.
And I second the comment above on organ donation! You have many (young) blog readers and can make a big impact if your signing up for organ donation influences a handful of them
Wow just read that the transplant was today (well today when the press release was written). Goodness I wonder if the news was leaking out because I would think that they would want to keep that secret for a little while... honestly the recovery hasn't even started.. the first 24-48 hours are very very touch and go after a heart transplant... it seems that all the news on Munoz has been spun in the most positive matter .... Apple waited about 2 months before releasing the news about Jobs getting a transplant... heart transplants are a big big brutal surgery... Like I said I wish him well but I really wish they had kept this more private...
FDW
Wow what a surprise. Rich well connected person gets sick and bumps right to the top of the transplant list.
Who'd have thought
How did this guy get a heart so fast? Aren't people on the transplant list for multiple years? It's good to be CEO of a massive company it seems.
Ha! A heart transplant without waiting for months or years, and I bet he is receiving full pay and benefits while he is out of work. Does anyone know the sick-pay policy for new rank-and-file employees at United? I bet most folks who have been employed for less than six months don't get paid if they have a serious illness.
Organ transplants are strictly controlled by UNOS, an independent organization, and priority is based on several criteria related to the health of the patient. While there are geographic differences as to wait times due to the the critical timeliness of a cadaver organ's viability, there is no reason to suspect the recipient's notoriety had any influence and those saying so are only undermining the important effort to encourage more people to become organ donors.