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New York, NY: JUNE 10, 2010 The Ireland-U.S. Council will present its
Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2010 to Jeff Smisek, the Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Airlines, Inc. to mark the notable
work he and the company have done in building the business relationships between
America and Ireland. The award will be the centerpiece of the Council’s 48th Annual
Dinner to be held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City on Thursday, November
11, 2010. Each year, the Council presents this award to an individual who
has made a significant contribution to enhancing the economic relationships between
America and Ireland.
Jeff Smisek
Chief Executive Officer
Continental Airlines, Inc.
Dennis Swanson, the President of the Council based in New York, said "Continental
Airlines has been a crucial component in sustaining and building the connections
between America and Ireland for many years. The island of Ireland requires an efficient,
effective and completely reliable air bridge to America for trade, investment, tourism
and business links to flourish, not to mention all the vital social, heritage, artistic
and other bonds. Continental Airlines is the only carrier to offer direct
non-stop air service between three points in Ireland and the United States, offering
service linking Dublin, Belfast and Shannon with Newark Liberty International Airport."
President Swanson continued "We are extraordinarily pleased to recognize the substantial
contributions made by Jeff Smisek and Continental Airlines in building connections
between the Ireland and the United States. Through his leadership, the economic
and business bonds between America and Ireland have been greatly facilitated and
enhanced. The members and directors of the Council are delighted to honor such an
outstanding and worthy recipient with this well-deserved award."
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth-largest airline. Mr. 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 his 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, Mr. 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.
He 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. He and his wife reside in Houston and
are long-time supporters of numerous charitable and civic organizations.
The Ireland-U.S. Council was founded in 1963 by American and Irish business
leaders. Its principal objective is to encourage closer business links between Ireland
and the United States. The Council operates a variety of scholarship and internship
programs, stages lectures, seminars and hosts frequent events in Ireland and in
America aimed at building communications between business, political and opinion
leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. As part of its platform, the Council also
supports and sponsors many initiatives in the arts. The Council is a not-for-profit
corporation with headquarters in New York City and a permanent office in Dublin.
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