Jeff Smisek is to lead United Continental Airlines as the company’s new CEO. The self-described ‘airline geek’ has also been called a ‘change-agent’ and ‘whip-smart’ so hopes are high as he begins a ‘brainstorming’ tour to try and win the support of employees and customers alike of the new United Continental.
United now holds an unparalleled network after its merger with Continental Airlines, and the new CEO of United Continental hopes to sell his vision of an airline whose services are unmatched around the globe.
The merger was completed Friday, but Smisek has only 90 days to secure the goodwill of workers of the new United Continental. If not, labor strife could overshadow the benevolence that the $3 billion deal has engendered so far.
The challenge for Smisek is compounded because he works against the backdrop of the pressure of combining information and network systems of the two airlines, as well as the negotiations of all the carrier’s employee contracts. Many United staff are anxious to claim the pay they resigned during the company’s three-year bankruptcy.
But with all the stress and pressure, Smisek doesn’t seem to be cracking, "If you are an airline geek, it doesn't get any better than this: bringing these two carriers together," Smisek chirped last week. "They are the perfect marriage, the perfect fit. I think we're creating a tremendous carrier here."
Smisek’s optimism is vital, as is creating the harmony he speaks of if the merger is to be successful and not become bogged down in labor issues.
