Smisek succeeds Kellner
Continental Airlines firmed up its succession plan for its first year after chief Gordon Bethune retires in December.
It named executive vice-president Jeffery Smisek to become president and chief operating officer as Larry Kellner takes over as chairman and chief executive at Bethune's retirement. A former Continental manager noted that the carrier is now being run by a banker (Kellner) and a lawyer (Smisek), both recruited by Bethune, who famously announced upon taking the reins in 1994 that neither bankers nor lawyers would be running the company anymore.
Continental also announced that David Grizzle, its long-time senior vice-president for marketing strategy and corporate development, will take a leave of absence to enter public service. Grizzle, with nearly 20 years at Continental and responsibility for its alliances strategy, will take a position with the US State Department as senior transport and infrastructure adviser for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group, based in Kabul.
DAVID FIELD WASHINGTON
Source: Airline Business
