Tuesday, August 10th | 10:00am - 11:15am
Join Moderator Peter Greenberg as he asks the tough questions about the future of the airline industry in one-on-one interviews with airline executives. How will consolidation, the evolving distribution scheme, and global alliances change the competitive landscape? How will customer service be defined in the era of merchandising and mobile? Gain privileged insights from these market leaders.
James Hogan
Chief Executive Officer
Etihad Airways
James Hogan was appointed to the position of CEO of Etihad Airways on 10 September 2006, bringing more than 30 years of travel industry expertise to the Abu Dhabi-based airline.
He has overseen rapid growth of the UAE’s national airline during the last two years, adding 13 new destinations and 21 new aircraft, and more than doubling the numbers of passengers carried. In June 2008, he signed one of the largest aircraft orders in history for up to 205 aircraft worth approximately US $43 billion at list prices, to meet the airline’s ambitious long-term growth plans. In November 2008, he was named “Aviation CEO of the Year” by CEO magazine.
James started his career in 1975 at Ansett Airlines, and subsequently held senior positions with bmi, Hertz, Forte Hotels and Gulf Air.
At Hertz, his roles included directorships of the marketing, sales and operations divisions. In 1995, based in London, he joined the executive management committee as Vice President, Marketing & Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
In 1997, James became service director for bmi British Midland, leaving in 1998 to join the Granada Group as worldwide sales director, where he sat on the board of Forte Hotels.
He returned to bmi in 1999. Joining the board as chief operating officer, he was responsible for flight and ground operations, sales and marketing, commercial, cargo, engineering and handling service companies.
James moved back to his native Australia in 2001, where he was appointed chief executive of the Tesna consortium, which was created with the aim of acquiring Ansett Airlines from administration, before joining Gulf Air in 2002, where he served as chief executive for four years.
James is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a former non-executive director of Gallaher Plc.
Temel Kotil, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Turkish Airlines
Dr. Temel Kotil is Chief Executive Officer of Turkish Airlines. Kotil started his career with Turkish Airlines in 2003 as the Deputy General Manager in Turkish
Technic, Inc. He became the CEO of Turkish Airlines in 2005 and has served on the Board of Governors of IATA since 2006.
Kotil served as the Head of Research Planning and Coordination Department in Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul. Going to the United States for a second time
in 2001, Kotil served as guest professor in the University of Illinois, followed by a position of Research Engineer in Advanced Innovative Technologies Inc, in Troy, New York,
between 2002 and 2003.
Kotil graduated from the Aeronautical Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in 1983. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1991.
After founding and managing the Aviation and Advanced Composite Laboratories of ITU, he also served as chair and associate dean of Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering.
He also has many articles and publications in aeronautical science journals, as well as papers in seminars and conferences.
Jeffery A. Smisek
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Continental Airlines
Jeff Smisek is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines Inc., the world’s fifth largest airline. Smisek joined the airline in March 1995 as senior vice president and general counsel. In December 2004, he became president and was elected to the company’s board of directors. He became president and chief operating officer in September 2008 and assumed the role of chairman, president and chief executive officer in January 2010.
During Smisek’s 15 years with Continental, the carrier has expanded its global presence, and now serves more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. 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.
Over the course of his time at Continental, Smisek has overseen 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, sales and marketing, technology and legal affairs.
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.
Moderator
Peter Greenberg
Travel Editor for CBS News
Peter Greenberg is America’s most recognized, honored and respected front-line travel news journalist.
An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter is the consummate insider when it comes to reporting the travel business as news. No other journalist brings his extensive level of expertise and experience to the travel process. Travel Weekly recently named Peter one of the most influential people in the travel industry, along with Al Gore, Bill Marriott and Richard Branson.
He is host of the nationally syndicated Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio show, broadcast each week from a different remote location around the world on more than 150 stations and Sirius/XM radio.
Peter spent seven years as travel correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, followed by a 14-year stint as Travel Editor for NBC's Today show, CNBC and MSNBC.
His other current titles include Travel Editor at Large for AARP, Contributing Editor for Men's Health magazine, and contributor to The New Yorker, Parade, ForbesTraveler.com and MSN.com. He is also a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The View, as well as on CNN news and CBS.