--- description: Social media users have found it ironic that United CEO Oscar Munoz recently received a communication award from PR Week title: United Airlines CEO Was Recently Named 'Communicator of the Year' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdd43dfacad0ff271/6988c2227cdbac2fb9d57cf8/gettyimages-647208666.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Aviation](/tag/aviation/) ## Aviation Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # People Are Not Happy the United Airlines CEO Was Recently Named 'Communicator of the Year' by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 10, 2017 7:12 PM CUT  Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Continental Holdings Inc., listens during a discussion at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aviation summit in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, March 2, 2017\. Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Continental Holdings Inc., listens during a discussion at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aviation summit in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, March 2, 2017\. Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 10, 2017 7:12 PM CUT [United Airlines](http://fortune.com/2017/04/10/united-airlines-ceo-passenger-removed-video-upsetting/ "undefined") has found itself on the receiving end of social media outrage in recent weeks. Last month, the airline was in hot water after desk attendants refused to allow young girls [who were wearing leggings](http://time.com/4713370/united-airlines-leggings-ban/ "undefined") on a flight. And on Monday, it faced backlash again for [forcibly removing](http://fortune.com/2017/04/10/united-airlines-ceo-passenger-removed-video-upsetting/ "undefined") a passenger who [declined to leave](http://time.com/4733425/united-airlines-volunteer-definition/ "undefined") an overbooked plane. Videos and images from both events spread rapidly on social media and high-level officials from the airline, including [CEO Oscar Munoz](http://fortune.com/2017/04/10/united-airlines-ceo-passenger-removed-video-upsetting/ "undefined"), have been tasked with cleaning up the public-relations nightmares. But now Munoz is the focus of some online hate after the plane incident went viral and he apologized — prompting some social media users to notice had recently named [“Communicator of the Year” by _PR Week_](http://newsroom.united.com/2017-03-17-United-Airlines-CEO-Oscar-Munoz-Named-PRWeeks-Communicator-of-the-Year "undefined"). Social media users found P_R Week_‘s designation ironic, given the company’s recent PR blunders and typos many highlighted in a statement the company released in response to what’s being called #dragginggate. > [](https://twitter.com/claireatki/status/851478365680881664) > [](https://twitter.com/jlew8/status/851499667540111360) > [](https://twitter.com/consensusworks/status/851495217270145028) > [](https://twitter.com/SpikeyOC/status/851498288255647751) [_PR Week_](http://www.prweek.com/article/1426909/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-named-prweek-us-communicator-year "undefined") said it focused mainly on the Munoz’s communication style in relation to United employees and union leaders as well as recent hires in corporate communications. “Munoz has shown himself to be a smart, dedicated, and excellent leader who understands the value of communications,” the _PR Week_ [announcement reads.](http://www.prweek.com/article/1426909/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-named-prweek-us-communicator-year "undefined") “His ability to connect and share with employees his vision for the airline, and get them to rally behind it, is a key reason _PRWeek_ named him 2017 Communicator of the Year.” The award was issued on March 17. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4733467/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-award/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4733467/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-award/"},"headline":"People Are Not Happy the United Airlines CEO Was Recently Named 'Communicator of the Year'","datePublished":"2017-04-10T19:12:55.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T04:19:36.353Z","description":"Social media users found the award ironic","url":"https://time.com/4733467/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-award/","keywords":["Aviation","Companies","united airlines","pr","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdd43dfacad0ff271/6988c2227cdbac2fb9d57cf8/gettyimages-647208666.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maya Rhodan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdd43dfacad0ff271/6988c2227cdbac2fb9d57cf8/gettyimages-647208666.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Key Speakers At The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Aviation Summit","caption":"Key Speakers At The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Aviation Summit","creditText":"Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/aviation/","name":"Aviation"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4733467/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-award/","name":"People Are Not Happy the United Airlines CEO Was Recently Named 'Communicator of the Year'"}}]}] ```