ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2024 - 8

PERSPECTIVES
Pam Hendry
Vice President and Treasurer at United Airlines
Jetrader spoke to Pam Hendry about how United
finances its fleet and plans for the unknowns,
her experience working for a lessor and advice to
those new to the industry, and more.
Jetrader: What was your career path
prior to becoming vice president and
treasurer at United Airlines?
Pam Hendry (PH): When I was first
starting out in my career, I knew I
wanted to do something in finance.
What was interesting to me, coming
from Southern California, was
taking finance and using it in the
entertainment industry. I started out
in public accounting. I worked with
some entertainment clients, but I was
also on this aircraft leasing job called
International Lease Finance Corporation
(ILFC). Ultimately, I was offered a
position there, and I took it. At first, I
hated it. I cried every night. But then
that changed, and it turned into a 25year
career.
I started out in accounting but also
doing the treasury functions, because it
was a very small company. Ultimately,
they realized they needed to split
those functions and asked me which
one I preferred. Treasury, especially
at a capital-intensive business, is
interesting because it is forward
looking. It is strategic and different
from many other treasurer roles in other
industries. Having a global footprint and
huge transactions made the treasurer
role really interesting to me.
8 * THE OF F I C I AL PUBL I CAT I ON OF ISTAT
I did that for many years, and then
after the acquisition by AerCap, I left.
I knew there were other things I still
wanted to do, so I did some consulting
work, did a startup that didn't start and
ultimately was semi-retired when I got
the call from United. Gerry Laderman
had been promoted. Basically, the
gentleman who was treasurer for life
was now the chief financial officer,
and there was an opportunity. I asked
my husband if he was prepared to
move to Chicago. He said yes, and
then I had to convince the United
folks that being a California girl would
not mean that as soon as winter hit,
I would freak out and need to run
away. I convinced everyone that I was
ready for the lifestyle. I didn't need to
convince anyone of my skill set, but I
had to convince them I had a big, heavy
winter jacket.
Jetrader: Who were your mentors
and role models throughout your
career?
PH: I actually didn't have any mentors,
at least not the way we think about
them today: a formalized process where
someone acts on your behalf or gives
you support through conversations.
When I think about it now, the way
ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2024

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