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Larry Kellner
Larry Kellner is chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines Inc., the world's fifth largest airline. Kellner joined the airline in 1995 as chief financial officer. In May 2001, he was elected president of the airline and to the Board of Directors, and in March 2003, he was named president and chief operating officer. He became chairman and chief executive officer in December 2004.
Kellner will leave Continental Airlines at the end of 2009 and will head Emerald Creek Group, LLC, a new private investment firm based in Houston.
Kellner has promoted international growth at Continental Airlines and has 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 14 years at Continental, the carrier has won more awards for customer satisfaction than any other airline. 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.
Prior to joining Continental, Kellner was executive vice president and chief financial officer of American Savings Bank, owned by The Robert M. Bass Group. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Koll Company, a private real estate investment and construction firm.
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 Methodist Hospital, YMCA of Greater Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Spring Branch Education Foundation, and Central Houston, Inc., and is a member of the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board. Kellner also serves on the advisory boards of the March of Dimes and Teach for America, and is on the development board of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He resides in Houston with his wife, Susan, and their four children.
Jeffery A. Smisek
Jeff Smisek is chairman and chief executive officer elect for Continental Airlines and a member of the Board of Directors. Smisek will assume the duties of chairman and chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2010.
In his current role as president and chief operating officer, he is responsible for 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. Over the course of his tenure at Continental, he has also overseen sales and marketing, technology and legal affairs.
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 and president and chief operating officer in September 2008. Prior to joining Continental, Smisek was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he specialized in corporate finance and securities law.
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 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.
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.
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, cargo, food services, system operations coordination, and CMI operations.
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.
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 Business College President's Advisory Board and the Embry-Riddle Business College Industry Advisory Committee. He resides in Houston with his wife and two children.
Current as of Oct. 21, 2009
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