Jeff Smisek

Who is Jeff Smisek?

Jeff Smisek is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines. United and its United Express regional partner airlines operate nearly 5,500 flights a day to more than 370 airports across six continents.

Prior to this role, Smisek was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Airlines, Inc., which merged with United Airlines in 2010. Smisek joined Continental in 1995 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. In 2004, he became President and was elected to the company’s board of directors. He became President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2008.

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 is married and has two children, and is a long-time supporter of numerous charitable and civic organizations.

Smisek serves on the board of directors for National Oilwell Varco, Inc. In addition, he is on the Baker Institute Board of Advisers and the Board of Trustees of Rice University. He is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Airlines for America.

He was named Aviation Week’s Person of the Year for 2010.