Alaska Airlines today announced that Nathaniel Pieper will join the company Aug. 1 as senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances. With more than 20 years in the airline industry, Pieper brings a wealth of aviation finance and global airline alliance experience.

Pieper will have a broad scope of responsibilities including the acquisition and financing of Alaska's mainline and regional aircraft and oversight of the company's treasury activities.

"Nat's deep experience with aircraft transactions and well-established relationships in the industry make him perfectly suited for this role," said Brandon Pedersen, Alaska's chief financial officer. "We look forward to him joining our leadership team."

Pieper will also serve as a senior leader for alliances, with a dotted line reporting relationship to Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison. Pieper's long-standing relationships with airlines around the world will help enhance Alaska's Global Partners program. Alaska has 18 global partners, which allow guests to earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide.

Prior to joining Alaska, Pieper worked for 20 years in aircraft, commercial, financial and strategic roles at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, most recently as senior vice president of Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, and as senior vice president of Global Alliances. Pieper and his family will relocate to Seattle from Paris.

Pieper holds a bachelor's degree in history from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration in finance, strategy and transportation management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.