Larry Kellner of CAL stepping down....
 

This is an unexpected turn of events.....Wish it was this 'easy' for Tilton over at UAL.

July 16, 2009



Dear Co-worker,

I want to let you know that I have informed Continental’s Board of Directors of my decision to step down as Continental’s chairman and chief executive officer at the end of this year. Jeff will succeed me as chairman and chief executive officer.

My decision to leave Continental and return to the private equity world was a very tough one, made all the more difficult by the thousands of co-workers I have worked with and the many friends I have made during my 14 years at Continental. This decision is based on my long-standing desire to create a business from scratch and my experience in private investment. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of you and the accomplishments we have achieved.

Continental is and will remain the leader in our industry. This is the right time to implement Continental’s succession plan and transition leadership to Jeff, as the recent approval by the Department of Transportation of our Star Alliance application will allow us to continue our position as an effective global competitor.

Jeff is ready to lead this great company and I am confident that he will maintain Continental’s unique culture and lead the airline to future success. He is a strong and effective leader, and has been a key part of every major decision that has taken place at this company during his more than 14 years with Continental. Jeff has been by my side at every CEO Exchange and major company event during my five years as chairman and CEO.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you and to lead the Continental team. You are the most professional men and women in the industry, and I will always be honored and proud to have spent these 14 years on your team.

Sincerely,

Larry

JEFF SMISEK TO BECOME CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CONTINENTAL AIRLINES; LARRY KELLNER TO RETURN TO PRIVATE EQUITYAFTER 14 YEARS WITH THE AIRLINE

HOUSTON, July 16, 2009 -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) announced today that Jeff Smisek, 54, Continental’s president and chief operating officer and a member of the board of directors, will become chairman and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2010. Smisek will succeed Larry Kellner, 50, who has decided to return to private equity at year-end after 14 years with Continental, the last five of them as chairman and CEO.

“It has been a great honor to lead the professional men and women of Continental and be part of the premier airline in the industry,” Kellner said. “I have worked closely with Jeff throughout my tenure, and he is a strong and effective leader. I am confident Jeff will maintain Continental’s unique culture and successfully lead the Continental team through these challenging times.

“While I will deeply miss my co-workers at Continental, it is the right time for this transition. Continental has gained approval from DOT of our Star Alliance application, which will allow us to continue as an effective global competitor,” Kellner added.

“The Board thanks Larry for his tremendous leadership of Continental during some of the most challenging times this industry has faced,” said Henry Meyer, lead director for Continental.

“The Board has consistently focused on succession planning, and Jeff’s experience, skills and long partnership with Larry make him the ideal executive to succeed Larry as chairman and CEO. We look forward to working with Jeff as he continues Continental’s industry leadership.”

“Although I am saddened that Larry has decided to move on, I respect his decision and wish him continued success,” said Smisek. “Over the next several months, Larry and I will work together to ensure a smooth transition. Our entire team will remain focused on returning our company to profitability, and Continental’s great culture will continue to be the driving force of the company’s long-term success,” he added.

Houston-based board member Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell noted Kellner’s civic contributions. “The Houston community has been blessed with having Larry as both a leader at Continental and a leader of our community. Continental has been a tremendous partner to the Houston community and we look forward to working with Jeff as he assumes his new role,” said Pastor Caldwell.

Continental was named Fortune magazine’s No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline in each year of Kellner’s tenure as chairman and CEO. He fostered Continental’s working together culture, while leading the carrier’s expansion into London Heathrow, China and India and focusing the company on fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Kellner will head Emerald Creek Group, LLC, a new private investment firm based in Houston.

Jeff Smisek biography

Jeff Smisek is president and chief operating officer of Continental Airlines and a member of the Board of Directors. 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.

Larry Kellner biography

Kellner joined Continental 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.

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.

Is Jeff the current vice president?

Interesting...
Smisek is president and COO.

wish my backup was "return to private equity", seriously, who are these people?

Ohh c'mon... Goldman Sachs or the Golden Arches. Ill take McD's any day! Free fries baby.

I'll miss that forehead.

I smell a rat, a big one...

Tilton will be the new CEO once the 2 companies merge.


Sarcasm

Someone will be. I am guessing he stated that he would not merge with UAUA, and they gave him an option.

Also CAL has some serious hurdles to get over in the next 18 months.

Thought Tilton would be first....guess not.

I think Kellner will replace Tilton, then merge with CAL and be the CEO at UCAL, but only long enough to get collect his golden parachute and run.

"These people"... have severely out classed us. While we are drinking beer on our days off and not bothering to oversee our own paid representation, they are consulting with firms that specialize in how to get us to do it next year for even less. Maybe one of you Embry-Riddle grads can explain to the rest of us what the subtle difference is between summa cum laude and magna cum laude...

"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.

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."

Something strange is afoot at the Circle K....

Tough times were coming to NWA, and RA bailed. His #2 guy took the "bad cop" role during BK. RA then mysteriously materialized over at DAL, and bingo...NWA Mark 2 with Delta paint.

Watch their feet...

Nu

This whole UAL/CAL thing is already charted out....Kellner must of just been there to make sure the alliance took place then....1 week later...gone.

This is all part of the plan...and none of us really know what the final outcome is. We will now start to see things moving...now that the alliance is finalized.

Where's Gordo Lurking?
 

Uhm.........

A private equity firm might be a nice place to go for a little while to shore up some cash and comply with a non-compete clause.....

Cheers to the bean counter leaving. We just wish someone like Gordon was taking over CAL, UAL and every other place with inept management.

I am not an Embry-Riddle grad but magna cum laude is graduating with honors, summa cum laude is graduating with highest honors. There is no set distinction on what constitutes these honors, they are dependent on each university.

I bet it is not UA or LCC.

The post was tongue in cheek... intending to prick the conscience of pilots to be more proactive and involved in labor organization and political action. We can call ERAU the "Harvard of aviation", just like we can call my experience in high school shop class the "Julliard of wood shop 101". These guys really did go to Harvard AND they excelled there. They network with capable business associates and academic contacts simply because of credentials. 20 years after graduation they are still being courted by their universities for awards ceremonies. They "Networked" long before the term networking was a household name more commonly associated with myspace than with business advancement.

Am I singing their praises? Not in so many words. If however you earn a living in the cockpit, never underestimate the people that revolve through the CEO track. They have effectively reduced us to technicians and intentionally distanced themselves from us and distanced us from any managerial capacity. Only one thing will swing this pendulum the other way - iron clad and galvanized unity. Industry wide "These people" have done well in helping to destroy that as well.

Nope - we WISHED Tilton would be first !! ;)

Well said Captain Bligh. It is a mistake to underestimate the management types Harvard coins. Airlines in the 20's and 40's were built by pilots and managed by pilots. Unfortunatly today we have lost the way as airlines are built on the backs of pilots and managed by hotel managers.

IMHO Gordon just had personality as a CEO where as Kellner had none. Gordon's largest contribution at CAL seemed to be his desire to give all the 737 flying to Coex/XJT I'll never forget Gordon saying quote "The pilots are just like children, and you don't let children build your house."

The biggest difference wasn't Gordon's personality. Gordo was a builder - that's why his tenure at CAL was one of the best times in the airlines history. He tore the rotten parts out (A300-POS!), and carefully built it back up. Yeah the EMB fleet went from 0 to 3 million, but the 737 and WB fleets grew too.

Larry just squeezes more juice out of the fruit. He hasn't added a dime of value to the airline.

Completely wrong.

When we did have the A-300, we had, (percentage wise WB/NB), more widebodies than ever. Our widebody to narrowbody fleet ratio is an embarrassment and the only major carrier that has a worse percentage is UsAir.