Gordon Bethune — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Retired US airline executive.
Served as CEO of Continental Airlines from 1994 to 2004, leading a turnaround that saw stock price rise from $2 to over $50 per share.
Authored "From Worst to First: Behind the Scenes of Continental's Remarkable Comeback" (1999).
Held leadership roles at Boeing, Braniff International Airways, Western Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines.
Served on the boards of Honeywell, Prudential Financial, and Aloha Airlines.
Retired as a lieutenant from the U.S. Navy in 1978.
Earned a bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University in 1984.

Biography

Gordon M. Bethune is a retired US airline executive, best known for his leadership as CEO of Continental Airlines from 1994 until his retirement at the end of 2004. He took the helm when the airline had faced bankruptcy twice, leading it through a significant turnaround. Under his leadership, Continental's stock price rose from $2 to over $50 per share, and the company was named among the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for six consecutive years by Fortune magazine.