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Officer Biographies

Jeffery A. Smisek

Jeff Smisek is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines Inc., the world's fifth largest airline. Smisek joined the airline in March 1995 as senior vice president and general counsel. In December 2004, he became president and was elected to the company's board of directors. He became president and chief operating officer in September 2008 and assumed the role of chairman, president and chief executive officer in January 2010.

During Smisek's 15 years with Continental, the carrier has expanded its global presence, and now serves more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. In 2009, FORTUNE magazine ranked Continental the No. 1 airline on their annual airline industry list of "Most Admired Global Companies" for the sixth consecutive year.

Over the course of his time at Continental, Smisek has overseen airline operations, including flight operations, inflight, airports, catering, cargo, maintenance and technical operations, and also human resources and labor relations, global real estate, security and environmental affairs, corporate communications, federal affairs, and international, state and local affairs, sales and marketing, technology and legal affairs.

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 and his wife reside in Houston and are long-time supporters of numerous charitable and civic organizations.

Jim Compton

Jim Compton is executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Continental Airlines Inc. 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.

Compton became executive vice president of marketing in August 2004, and became executive vice president and chief marketing officer in January 2010. 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 $3.0 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.

Compton received a bachelors and masters degree in economics from the University of Illinois – Chicago. He also serves on the board of directors of The Houston Center for Hearing and Speech. He lives in Houston with his wife and has two children.

Mark Moran

Mark Moran is executive vice president and chief operations officer for Continental Airlines Inc. In this position, he is responsible for flight operations, inflight, airport services, technical operations, cargo, food services, system operations, safety, security, facilities, environmental, and CMI operations.

Moran became executive vice president of operations in August 2004, and in January 2010 was named executive vice president and chief operations officer. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility within Continental since joining the company in May 1994.

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 an instrument rated pilot. Moran graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Marquette University in 1979. Mark is married and has 4 children.

Zane Rowe

Zane Rowe is executive vice president and chief financial officer for Continental Airlines Inc., a position he has held since August 2008. 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. He is also responsible for Continental’s technology department.

Since joining Continental in 1993, Rowe has held a variety of positions in the carrier’s Finance and Marketing departments, including vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis, and, most recently, senior vice president of Network Strategy.

In 2009, Treasury & Risk Magazine named him one of “corporate America’s outstanding financial executives under the age of 40.” In 1999 and in 2003, Travel Agent Magazine named him one of the “Top 100 Travel Industry Rising Stars.”

Prior to joining Continental, Rowe was an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he taught economics. He received his MBA in Finance from San Diego State University and Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Rowe serves on the Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees and the Embry-Riddle Business College Industry Advisory Committee. He resides in Houston with his wife and two children.

Current as of July 29, 2010