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Larry Kellner
Larry Kellner is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines Inc., the world's fifth largest airline. Kellner joined the airline in 1995 as senior vice president and chief financial officer, and was named executive vice president and chief financial officer in November 1996. In May 2001, he was elected president of the airline and to the Board of Directors, and in March 2003, he also was named chief operating officer. He became chairman of the board and chief executive officer in December 2004.
Kellner has promoted international growth at the airline, which now serves more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. He has also fostered the company's unique culture, putting emphasis on strong internal communication and giving employees the tools to provide outstanding customer service.
During Kellner's 12 years at Continental, the carrier has won more awards for customer satisfaction than any other airline. In 2007, FORTUNE magazine ranked Continental the No. 1 airline on their annual airline industry list of "Most Admired Global Companies" for the fourth consecutive year. Continental was also named the most admired U.S. airline on FORTUNE's 2007 list of "America's Most Admired Companies."
Prior to joining Continental, Kellner was executive vice president and chief financial officer of American Savings Bank, with approximately $20 billion in assets, where he was responsible for all financial operations and strategic planning.
Kellner graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of South Carolina, where he served as Student Body President. In addition, the University of South Carolina presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.
Kellner is active in numerous community and civic organizations. He currently serves on the board of directors for Marriott International and the Air Transport Association. On the civic front, he is a member of the board of directors for the Greater Houston Partnership, the Methodist Hospital, Central Houston, Inc., and the Spring Branch Education Foundation, and is a member of the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board. Kellner also serves on the advisory board of the March of Dimes. He resides in Houston with his wife, Susan, and their four children.
Jeffery A. Smisek
Jeff Smisek is president of Continental Airlines and a member of the Board of Directors. He is responsible for sales and marketing, human resources and labor relations, technology, corporate communications, global real estate and security and environmental affairs, federal affairs, and international, state and civic affairs. He reports to the chief executive officer.
Smisek joined the airline in March 1995 as senior vice president and general counsel, and has since held positions of increasing responsibility. He became president in December 2004.
Smisek graduated from Princeton University, A.B. summa cum laude in economics, in 1976, and Harvard Law School, J.D. magna cum laude, in 1982. He also serves on the board of directors of National Oilwell Varco, Inc. Smisek resides in Houston with his wife and two children.
Jim Compton
Jim Compton is executive vice president of marketing for Continental Airlines Inc., a position he has held since August 2004. In this role, he is responsible for the company's domestic and international sales, corporate development and alliances, marketing, reservations, network pricing and revenue management, scheduling, and distribution.
Prior to this position, Compton was senior vice president of marketing from March 2003 to August 2004. He joined Continental in February 1995 as senior director of pricing.
As senior vice president of marketing, Compton was instrumental in launching EliteAccess, which is the airline's priority service for its most valuable customers from their arrival at the airport through baggage claim. During his tenure, sales at continental.com have increased to more than $2.1 billion annually.
Before joining Continental, Compton was with the United Parcel Service of America from 1993 to 1995, where he was responsible for system development, business planning, as well as rates for the company's $15 billion domestic and air package delivery business. He was manager of forecasting and revenue analysis for United Airlines from 1984 to 1993.
He serves on the board of Airline Tariff Publishing Co. Compton received a bachelors and masters degree in economics from the University of Illinois – Chicago. He lives in Houston with his wife and has two children.
Jeffrey J. Misner
Jeff Misner is chief financial officer and executive vice president for Continental Airlines Inc., a position he has held since August 2004. In this role, he is responsible for the airline's overall financial operations including corporate finance, treasury, financial planning, tax, accounting, investor relations, fleet, fuel purchasing, internal audit and risk management. Prior to this position, Misner was chief financial officer and senior vice president from November 2001 to August 2004.
Misner joined Continental in 1995 as vice president of Treasury Operations and was promoted to vice president and treasurer in January 2000. He was promoted to senior vice president of finance in May 2001.
Prior to joining Continental, Misner was a tax and business consultant. From 1981 to 1991, he was a tax partner with Ernst and Young in Orange County, Calif., where he was responsible for real estate for clients with operations throughout the United States and Mexico. From 1979 to 1981, Misner was with Kenneth Leventhal and Company in Newport Beach, Calif.
Misner also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1971 to 1975, and received his bachelor's degree in accounting from San Diego State University. He also serves on the board of directors and audit committee of Vonage.
Misner lives in Houston with his wife and three children.
Mark Moran
Mark Moran is executive vice president of operations for Continental Airlines Inc., a position he has held since August 2004. In this position, he is responsible for flight operations, inflight, airport services, technical operations, purchasing, cargo, food services, crew scheduling, flight safety/training and system operations coordination.
He has held various positions of increasing responsibility within Continental since joining the company in May 1994, his most recent being senior vice president of technical operations and purchasing.
Prior to joining Continental, Moran was director of engineering for US Airways. He started his airline career with Boeing Co. in 1979 as a design engineer, where he worked for five years before joining Piedmont Airlines.
He is a registered professional engineer and holds his private pilot license.
Moran graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Marquette University in 1979. He lives in Houston with his wife and four children.
Current as of Mar. 21, 2008
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