United Airlines Recruits New CIO from EDS

Plus: BancInsure Hires New CIO 

United Airlines hired Keith Halbert as its new SVP and CIO on December 20. Halbert succeeds Gary Kelly, who recently retired from the company, according to a United PR person. The Chicago-based airline recruited Halbert from EDS, where he was vice president and CIO. At EDS, Halbert “led the company’s digital transformation efforts and implemented a three-year IT transformation plan that…improved the company’s performance and reduced its operating expense,” according to the press release announcing Halbert’s hire. United wants its new CIO to help the company improve customer service and support for employees by implementing new IT. Halbert begins his new job on January 11 and reports to EVP John Tague.

Rudy Erb joined BancInsure as VP and CIO of its companies, which include BMSI Marketing and Matterhorn Financial Services. He comes to the Oklahoma City-based insurance provider to financial services companies from Wachovia, where he was a vice president of retail banking support. In that position he oversaw payment technology, internet project management, budget administration and vendor management. Prior to Wachovia, Erb worked for several national insurance companies where he led marketing analysis, e-commerce development and IT support departments. He has 12 years of IT leadership experience and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in information systems from the University of Idaho’s College of Business and Economics.