Warburg Pincus taps ex-American Airlines CEO Horton as senior advisor

Thomas W. Horton is joining Warburg Pincus as a senior advisor in its industrials and business services group. Previously, Horton was the chairman, president and CEO of American Airlines.

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing, today announced the appointment of Thomas W. Horton as a Senior Advisor in the Industrials and Business Services (“IBS”) Group. Mr. Horton will work with Warburg Pincus’ IBS portfolio companies and will support the firm in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities in the aerospace, industrial and business services sectors.

Mr. Horton was most recently Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines. He led American through its successful restructuring and operational turnaround which culminated in the merger with US Airways, creating the world’s largest airline. He previously held several other senior leadership positions at American Airlines, including serving as Chief Financial Officer. He also brings significant leadership experience from his time at AT&T Corp., where he was Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman. While there, he reduced the company’s gross debt by 75 percent and eventually structured its merger with SBC.

Dan Zamlong, Managing Director, Industrials and Business Services, Warburg Pincus said, “We are very pleased to have Tom join us as a Senior Advisor. Tom is recognized for his excellent track record leading and growing world-class businesses and brings a wealth of knowledge to our aviation investment activities. His roles in operational and financial management will benefit our portfolio companies and their management teams and provide valuable perspectives for future investment opportunities.”

Mr. Horton commented, “I am excited to be part of the Warburg Pincus team. Warburg Pincus’ focus on building enduring franchises and deep domain knowledge in the aviation sector aligns with my business approach and background. I look forward to working with new colleagues to identify and evaluate investment opportunities and support the firm’s management teams.”

Mr. Horton holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, magna cum laude, from Baylor University. He serves on the Board of Directors of Walmart and Qualcomm, where he is presiding director. He also serves on the Executive Board of the Cox School of Business at SMU. In addition to business interests in aviation, he holds commercial, instrument and multiengine pilot ratings.

Warburg Pincus has substantial experience investing in the aerospace, industrial, and business services sectors. The firm’s investments in aerospace have included CAMP Systems, Consolidated Precision Products, Extant Components Group, Mercator, Quest Global Services, Survitec, TransDigm Group and Wencor Group. Its investments in industrials and business services have included Aramark, Electronic Funds Source, Polypore International, Scotsman Industries, Sterigenics, Trimark and Universal Services of America.

Warburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The firm has more than $37 billion in assets under management. The firm’s active portfolio of more than 120 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 14 private equity funds, which have invested more than $50 billion in over 720 companies in more than 35 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo and Shanghai. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com.