Chicago deputy mayor joining United Airlines as general counsel

United Airlines has hired Chicago deputy mayor Robert Rivkin as senior vice president and general counsel. His last day as Chicago’s deputy mayor will be February 28, and he will start his new role at United the week of March 18.

In his new role, Rivkin will be responsible for all of the company’s legal matters, as well as ethics, compliance, government contracting and security. He will be taking over general counsel duties from executive vice president and chief administrative officer Brett Hart. Rivkin will report to Hart, who will continue to oversee that part of the company.

Rivkin’s background includes experience in government, as a regulator and in the airline industry. He served as deputy general counsel for Delta Air Lines from 2013 to 2016. Before joining Delta, he served as general counsel for the US Department of Transportation from 2009 to 2013.

For a year before becoming deputy mayor in August 2017, Rivkin was of counsel with Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, according to his LinkedIn profile. In that role, he advised clients on transportation industry matters, infrastructure, internal investigations, domestic and international business regulation and commercial litigation. Earlier in his career he was deputy general counsel at Aon.

‘Bob’s distinguished career in public service, the legal community and the airline industry make him an ideal fit for this critical role on our United team. He’s a proven leader who will make an immediate impact as we work to fulfill United’s incredible potential,’ says United CEO Oscar Munoz in a statement.