Decision Makers
| Name (plus bio) |
Position |
| Robert L. Friedman |
Director |
| Edward H. Bastian |
Chief Executive Officer and President Northwest Airlines, Inc. |
| Neal D. Cohen |
Executive Vice President, Strategy - International & CEO, Regional Airlines |
| Tom Bach |
President, NWA Cargo |
| Anna M. Schaefer |
Chief Accounting Officer & Vice President, Finance |
| David M. Davis |
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
| Kenneth J. Hylander |
Vice President, Safety and Engineering & Chief Safety Officer |
| Andrew C. Roberts |
Executive Vice President, Operations |
| J. Timothy Griffin |
Executive Vice President, Marketing and Distribution |
| Andrea F. Newman |
Senior Vice President, Govt Affairs |
| Ben Hirst |
Senior Vice President, Consumer Affairs and Administration |
| Bob Brodin |
Senior Vice President, Labor Relations |
| Crystal Knotek |
Senior Vice President, Customer Care and Airport Operations |
| Daniel Matthews |
Senior Vice President & Treasurer |
| Jim Cron |
Senior Vice President, Revenue Management, Planning and Loyalty Marketing |
| Jim Friedel |
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning |
| Julie Hagen Showers |
Senior Vice President, In-flight Services |
| Kris Bauer |
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations |
| Laura Liu |
Senior Vice President, International Business |
| Mary Linder |
Senior Vice President, Corp & Brand Communications |
| Michael Becker |
Senior Vice President, HR & Labor Relations |
| Timothy J. Rainey |
Senior Vice President, Flight Operations and System Operations Control |
| Barry Hofer |
Vice President, Facilities and Airport Affairs |
| Bob Muhs |
Vice President, SOC |
| Chris Collette |
Vice President, Fin & Staffing, Ground Operations |
| Dale Wilkinson |
Vice President, Materials Management |
| Dan McDonald |
Vice President, Strategy and Fleet Planning |
| Dennis Newman |
Vice President, Domestic Planning and Scheduling |
| Frederic Deschamps |
Vice President, International Marketing and Sales |
| Michael Miller |
Vice President, Law |
| Nathaniel Pieper |
Vice President, Alliances |
| Perry Cantarutti |
Vice President, Reservations |
| Peter Kenney |
Vice President, Law |
| Steven M. Sear |
Vice President, Sales |
| Terry Mackenthun |
Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis |
| Tim Campbell |
Vice President, Regional Airline Operations |
| Todd C. Anderson |
Vice President, Customer Service - MSP |
| William P. Lentsch |
Vice President, Flight Operations and SOC Administration |
| Bill Mellon |
Director, Media Relations |
| Carol Fischer |
Director, Product Marketing |
| Anthony J. Alesci |
District Sales Manager |
| John Kentwell |
Manager, Maintenance |
| Kai Liu |
Manager, Customer Service |
Board of Directors
John M. Engler (60) is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Manufacturers, with whom he has been affiliated since October 2004. He was President of State and Local Government Business and Vice President of Government Solutions for North America for EDS in Herndon, Virginia from February 2003 to September 2004. He served as Governor of the State of Michigan from 1991 to 2003. Mr. Engler also serves on the boards of Munder Capital Management and Delta Airlines.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Patton Boggs |
Partner |
Current |
| Pareto Energy Ltd. |
|
Current |
| Southern Development Bancorporation |
|
Current |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| DC College Success Foundation |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| ICx Technologies, Inc. |
Secretary |
Current |
| Division of Southern Bancorp, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Kansas City Southern |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Southern Bancorp |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Barry W. Scanlon |
Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor, Washington, DC |
Current |
| Nomadics, Inc. |
Secretary |
Current |
| Hyperion Risk, Inc |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| James Lee Witt Associates, LLC |
Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor, Washington, DC |
Current |
| Nuride, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| United Way International |
At-Large Board Member |
Current |
| Arkansas State University |
Director of Government Affairs |
Former |
| Arkansas.Com |
Director of Government Relations |
Former |
| U.S. Department of Transportation |
Administrator |
Former |
| Arkansas.Com |
Assistant Attorney General |
Former |
| Federal Highway Administration |
Administrator |
Former |
| Federal Highway Administration |
Director |
Former |
| Department of Transportation |
Secretary |
Former |
| Howard University |
Doctorate |
Former |
| University of Arkansas |
J.D. Degree |
Former |
| University of Arkansas |
Law Degree |
Former |
| Eastern Michigan University |
|
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Blackstone Corporation |
Chief Legal Officer |
Current |
| New Alternatives for Children, Inc |
Senior Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer |
Current |
| Blackstone Group |
Chief Legal Officer |
Current |
| The Blackstone Group L.P. |
Senior Managing Director and Chief Legal Officer |
Current |
| Blackstone Group |
Senior Managing Director |
Current |
| NYSE Group, Inc. |
|
Current |
| AXIS Capital Holdings Limited |
Director |
Current |
| New Alternatives for Children, Inc |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| TRW Automotive Holdings, Corp. |
Director |
Current |
| Financial Guaranty Insurance Company |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Director |
Current |
| Nantucket Land Council, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| New Alternatives, Inc |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Premcor Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Blackstone Corporation |
Senior Managing Director |
Former |
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Llp |
partner |
Former |
| Columbia College |
Board Member |
Former |
| University of Pennsylvania Law School |
JD |
Former |
| Columbia College |
Graduate |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Business Risk Strategies |
|
Current |
| ADC Telecommunications, Inc. |
Chair |
Current |
| Nash-Finch Company |
Chairman |
Current |
| Lopezgarcia Group |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| URS Corporation |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| URS Creative Imaging |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Ccg Securities, LLC. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| ADC Telecommunications, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Tryck Nyman Hayes, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| URS Forestry |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| URS Europe |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Aviation Consultants |
President |
Former |
| Atlas Air, Inc. |
President |
Former |
| Continental Airlines, Inc. |
President |
Former |
| Atlas Air, Inc. |
Chief Operating Officer |
Former |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Chief Financial Officer |
Former |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Executive Vice President |
Former |
| Atlas Air, Inc. |
Executive Vice President |
Former |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Special Projects Officer |
Former |
| Continental Airlines, Inc. |
Director |
Former |
| Worldspan Technologies Inc. |
Director |
Former |
| Advanced Design Consulting USA, Inc |
Director |
Former |
| First American Funds |
Director |
Former |
| Nash-Finch Company |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| MAIR Holdings, Inc. |
Director |
Former |
Mr. Postl served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Pennzoil Quaker State Company, a petroleum products company, from May 2000 until October 2002 when he retired. He joined Pennzoil in October 1998 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He is also a director of Centex Corporation and the American Balanced Fund.
Edward Bastian is chief executive officer and president for Northwest Airlines, Inc. and also serves as president and chief financial officer for Delta Air Lines, Inc.
As president at Delta, Bastian and his team oversaw and coordinated the Company's strategy from network planning and revenue management to sales, marketing and business development. In his prior role as CFO Bastian also served as the Company's Chief Restructuring Officer, leading Delta through one of the largest and most successful Chapter 11 restructuring processes in U.S. history, and did so in 19 months. The solid business plan Bastian helped develop included $3 billion in annual financial improvements and garnered strong support from the company's creditors and employees. In addition to achieving an industry leading financial position, Delta's Plan of Reorganization included an innovative compensation program for Delta employees including stock, cash payouts and pay increases.
Bastian joined Delta in October 1998 as vice president of Finance and Controller and was promoted to senior vice president in February 2000. In that role, Bastian guided the company through profit improvement initiatives garnering $5 billion in cost savings and revenue benefits between 2002 and 2004.
Bastian left Delta in early 2005 to become senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer of Acuity Brands. He returned to Delta in July 2005 as CFO and was promoted to president in August 2007.
Bastian previously worked for PepsiCo where he served as vice president of Finance for Pepsi Cola International. While at PepsiCo he had also served as vice president of business processes reengineering for Frito-Lay and vice president, Finance and Controller for Frito-Lay International. Prior to PepsiCo, Bastian was a partner in the New York audit practice of Price Waterhouse specializing in the entertainment, advertising and manufacturing sectors, and also served as the strategic planning partner for Price Waterhouse's New York Region.
A 1979 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a BBA, Bastian currently serves on the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity and the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Bastian lives in Atlanta with his wife, Anna, and their four children.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Chief Executive Officer and President Northwest Airlines, Inc. |
Current |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
President |
Current |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
President and Chief Financial Officer |
Former |
| Acuity Brands, Inc. |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Former |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
Chief Restructuring Officer |
Former |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
Senior Vice President |
Former |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
Vice President, Finance and Controller |
Former |
| PepsiCo, Inc. |
Vice President, Finance |
Former |
| Frito-Lay, Inc. |
Vice President, Finance and Controller |
Former |
| Habitat for Humanity International |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| St. Bonaventure University |
BBA |
Former |
Anna Schaefer was named Chief Accounting Officer, Northwest Airlines, Inc. in June 2008. Schaefer, who reports to David Davis, Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for overseeing all accounting related functions at Northwest including revenue accounting, corporate accounting and reporting, payroll and payables.
Schaefer, who joined the airline in 1992, has held a variety of leadership positions in accounting, information services and marketing at Northwest, including her most recent position as managing director - accounting. In addition to working with Northwest Airlines, Schaefer has also held positions at Sabre Travel Information Network, National Car Rental System, Inc. and Equico Lessors, Inc.
Schaefer holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration/finance from Mankato State University. She is a certified public accountant.
Kenneth J. Hylander is Vice President of Safety and Engineering for Northwest Airlines, Inc. As Chief Safety Officer, he is responsible for management of the airline's overall safety program and performance. In addition to operational safety, he is also responsible for occupational and environmental safety and the carrier's Internal Evaluation program. Additionally, Hylander is responsible for the technical support to the airline's various aircraft maintenance and modification programs, including overall fleet reliability management.
Appointed Chief Safety Officer in August 2001, Hylander is also responsible for representing Northwest's safety interests in Washington, D.C. and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations established by the Department of Transportation and other government agencies.
Prior to joining Northwest in September 1997, as the Vice President of Engineering, Hylander spent nearly 17 years at United Airlines where he held a variety of engineering, quality assurance and operations management positions.
Hylander is currently a member of the Air Transport Association's Senior Advisory Committee. He is past chairman of the Association's Engineering, Maintenance and Material Council. In addition, he has chaired both the Airworthiness Engineering and the Avionics Systems Engineering Committees of the Air Transport Association. He is past chair of the 3,500 member American Society for Quality's Aviation, Space and Defense Division. He is also a member of the SAE's Aerospace Program office and a senior advisor to the United States Air Force's Fleet Viability Board.
Hylander graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He obtained a master's degree in business administration from California State University.
Crystal Knotek was named senior vice president - ground operations and customer service in July 2008 where she is responsible for customer service and ground operations at Northwest Airlines, Inc.
Prior to holding this position, Knotek served as vice president - reservations and customer care for Northwest Airlines where she was responsible for the management of the airline's five domestic call centers and leading Northwest's customer care organization that works with the airline's customers to understand their needs, address any of their concerns and manage passenger refunds.
Knotek joined Northwest in 1985 as a reservations sales agent. She also has held various other key management positions within the airline's reservations and human resources departments. Prior to being named vice president - reservations and customer care in 2005, she served as vice president of reservations sales and service, and managing director of reservations sales and service.
Knotek holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. She received a master's degree in marketing education from the University of Minnesota. Knotek has served on the board of directors of Ezekiel Lutheran Church, the Kniest Syndrome Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and is currently serving on the boards of the Wishes and More Foundation.
Knotek is married and resides in River Falls, Wis. She has four children.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| MLT Vacations, Inc. |
Chief Executive Officer |
Current |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Senior Vice President, Revenue Management, Planning and Loyalty Marketing |
Current |
| Wistrade |
Vice President of Passenger Marketing and Sales |
Current |
| Wistrade |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
Vice President |
Former |
| Pillsbury |
|
Former |
| University of St. Thomas |
M.B.A. |
Former |
| St. John's University |
B.S In Accounting |
Former |
Kris Bauer was named senior vice president for technical operations at NWA in October 2004. Bauer is responsible for all maintenance and engineering matters concerning Northwest's fleet. This includes line and plant maintenance, airframe, engine and component overhauls, and other technical operation support functions. He had been vice president of aircraft maintenance operations for the airline since March 2003.
Bauer joined Northwest in 1996. He has been the managing director of technical operations finance and has worked in the company's financial planning and analysis division.
Prior to joining Northwest, Bauer had worked in engineering at Boeing and in various financial positions with United Airlines.
Bauer holds a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Cornell University.
Bauer lives with his wife and children in Lakeville, Minn.
Laura H. Liu is senior vice president of international for Northwest Airlines, Inc. Liu is responsible for all commercial aspects of NWA's international division. She oversees network planning, pricing, inventory management, sales, marketing, distribution planning, human resources, finance and administration.
Liu joined Northwest in 1991 as manager of marketing systems development. She was promoted to director of international yield management in 1995, and then managing director of international revenue management in 1997. She was named vice president of international marketing and revenue management in 1999 and assumed her present position in October 2007. Prior to her career at Northwest, Liu worked at American Airlines in the pricing and yield management department.
Liu holds three degrees from Cornell University; an M.B.A. and master of science and bachelor of science degrees in engineering.
Liu serves on the boards of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony and resides in Minneapolis with her husband and two children.
Mike Becker is Chief Operating Officer Northwest Airlines, Inc. He served as senior vice president of human resources since August 2001. Becker is responsible for all worldwide human resources functions including employee relations, compensation, benefits, pensions, training, executive recruiting, management development, diversity and corporate services. In addition, Becker oversees international labor relations.
Becker joined Northwest Airlines in May 1993. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as vice president - international, where he was responsible for all financial, administration and operations functions for the airline's Atlantic and Pacific divisions. He also has been Northwest's managing director of corporate human resources.
Prior to joining Northwest, Becker served for six years in various human resources, compensation and planning positions with The Dow Chemical Company. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from St. John's University and a master's degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota.
Becker has served on the boards of the University of Minnesota Industrial Relations Center, the Minnesota International Center, and the Narita Radisson Hotel. He resides in Eden Prairie, Minn. with his wife and children.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Northwest Airlines Corporation |
District Sales Manager |
Current |
| All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. |
Director, Market Development Marketing & Sales, The Americas |
Former |
| America West Airlines, Inc. |
Eastern Divisional Sales Director |
Former |
| America West Airlines, Inc. |
Northeast Regional Sales Director |
Former |
| America West Airlines, Inc. |
Station Manager, JFK |
Former |
| Royal Bank of Canada |
Regional Sales Manager, RBC Travel Insurance |
Former |
| Hofstra University |
Certificate of Web Page Design, College for Continuing Education |
Former |
| Hofstra University |
M.B.A., Marketing |
Former |
| State University of New York at Stony Brook |
B.A., Economics & Sociology |
Former |