CEO Jeff Smisek Out;Oscar Munoz new Pres/CEO,Henry Meyer non-ex Chair;FBI case closed
#346
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
I am joining the conversation late and can't keep up with the new posts let alone read the old ones. Maybe someone with some free time can make a consolidated post or even wiki with the major facts.
Anyways, does anyone have any insight on Munoz? What is his leadership style? What was he like at CSX? Are we likely to see positive changes or more people as cargo attitudes?
Anyways, does anyone have any insight on Munoz? What is his leadership style? What was he like at CSX? Are we likely to see positive changes or more people as cargo attitudes?
#347
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,023
Appearances can mean a lot to a company. That does not automatically equate to Smisek and the other two executives having committed a crime which is what many here are insinuating. Wouldn't it be more reasonable for people to at least wait for the investigation to conclude and then the possible trial if such?
Gleeful gloating has given way to wild speculation.
#348
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Since the BoSox and ChiSox won it, now it is the Cubs turn to take the Series. Go Cubs Go!
Posts: 3,685
On UA857 now. FAs are really good on this flight, but after appetizer and soup, they started bringing the main courses. I asked, "where happened to the salad?" The FA apologized and then told me that they were all so giddy at the news that Jeff was gone, they were unable to concentrate... the mains were immediately removed and salads brought. Staff is excited.
I came to FT and you guys don't let me down. 16 pages before I finished my third glass of a nice Rhône.
I came to FT and you guys don't let me down. 16 pages before I finished my third glass of a nice Rhône.
#349
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 995
Appearances can mean a lot to a company. That does not automatically equate to Smisek and the other two executives having committed a crime which is what many here are insinuating. Wouldn't it be more reasonable for people to at least wait for the investigation to conclude and then the possible trial if such?
#350
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,847
Appearances can mean a lot to a company. That does not automatically equate to Smisek and the other two executives having committed a crime which is what many here are insinuating. Wouldn't it be more reasonable for people to at least wait for the investigation to conclude and then the possible trial if such?
Even if they aren't indicted, perhaps the BOD reached the conclusion that their apparent involvement with the Port Authority investigation wasn't in the best interests of United, and it was time for them to go.
#351
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Central New Jersey (EWR)
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The subject actually got a couple of minutes tonight on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow show. Start at about the 11 minute mark. She started with the Bridgegate scandal (she been annoyingly harping on this for the better part of two years) and then led into David Samson and the resignation of Jeff. She mentioned The New York Time and a story that speculated that Jeff was ousted to save the airline itself from being criminally indicted.
#352
Join Date: May 2006
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Pay a visit to Delta's LaGuardia terminals....
Everything cloned in rapid order to 'Cibo Express,' 'Custom Burger', ' World Bean.'
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-s...-services.html
Not a single brand left.
No surprise OTG found its footing in Philly and with the Port Authority.
Everything cloned in rapid order to 'Cibo Express,' 'Custom Burger', ' World Bean.'
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-s...-services.html
Not a single brand left.
No surprise OTG found its footing in Philly and with the Port Authority.
#353
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
You know what's most poetic about this situation? I've spent hours and hours and hours listening to $mi$ek's lectures where he rants against the US Government and he rants against foreign carriers competing with him (and winning, of course). He says it's unfair. Unfair that the government regulates him. Unfair that the government taxes him to provide the infrastructure that let him make $14,000,000 a year. Unfair that foreign airlines get to compete with him.
And, then, he gets fired for alleged activities that have been described by major media outlets as corruption. That is, improperly influencing government officials to get benefits. Funny how it's fine for him to get special benefits but it's wrong for any other airline to get any benefits from their governments, and while he's allegedly bribing government officials for these benefits, he complains to us and the world about the fact that his company is taxed to pay for those benefits.
The hypocrisy is outstanding, even for him. This truly takes the cake.
In my view, Rainey was worst amongst them, and he's gone.
I wish there was a way to know if Rainey's departure was in any way related to the causes of $mi$ek being fired or was unrelated.
Can anyone confirm this? This is the only post I've seen stating that Munoz is temporary.
I'd feel a lot better if that's true because I don't have high hopes for Munoz based on his background. The only positive I can say about him is that he's not $mi$ek and I doubt he hates customers the way $mi$ek does.
Question: Who would be deciding on the long term replacement for $mi$ek? Will it be decided by the same forces as those who put $mi$ek into power and protected him for 4+ awful years? Is there any reason to hope that the people selecting the new CEO will look for a different kind of candidate?
This is very much how I feel.
I stopped flying his airline for two reasons:
1. Out of principle, I refuse to give my hard earned money to a cheater, liar, narcissist, and incompetent fool. As long as he was at the helm, my money was going to other airlines.
2. The operational incompetence of the mess of an airline that he created.
If (2) is fixed, I'd gladly return to United Airlines. Thankful that (1) has been fixed.
Since everyone is so fond of telling Munoz what he should do, here are my requests:
1. As long as $mi$ek gets lifetime GS benefits, let him be served by the GS agents that he forced to take a pay cut and work from home or better yet, let him be assigned to one of the agents who he fired.
2. Define $mi$ek's "lifetime" benefits the same way that he defined "lifetime" for his customers.
Do you think this guy will even have the guts to fly on a UA aircraft, even if its free? I read once that so many people hated him so much that even before being fired, he needed a security entourage to keep him safe while he travelled on his own airline.
And, then, he gets fired for alleged activities that have been described by major media outlets as corruption. That is, improperly influencing government officials to get benefits. Funny how it's fine for him to get special benefits but it's wrong for any other airline to get any benefits from their governments, and while he's allegedly bribing government officials for these benefits, he complains to us and the world about the fact that his company is taxed to pay for those benefits.
The hypocrisy is outstanding, even for him. This truly takes the cake.
I wish there was a way to know if Rainey's departure was in any way related to the causes of $mi$ek being fired or was unrelated.
I'd feel a lot better if that's true because I don't have high hopes for Munoz based on his background. The only positive I can say about him is that he's not $mi$ek and I doubt he hates customers the way $mi$ek does.
Question: Who would be deciding on the long term replacement for $mi$ek? Will it be decided by the same forces as those who put $mi$ek into power and protected him for 4+ awful years? Is there any reason to hope that the people selecting the new CEO will look for a different kind of candidate?
I stopped flying his airline for two reasons:
1. Out of principle, I refuse to give my hard earned money to a cheater, liar, narcissist, and incompetent fool. As long as he was at the helm, my money was going to other airlines.
2. The operational incompetence of the mess of an airline that he created.
If (2) is fixed, I'd gladly return to United Airlines. Thankful that (1) has been fixed.
"A filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission described the terms of Smisek's separation agreement. He'll receive a separation payment in the amount of $4,875,000, and remain eligible for a pro-rated bonus. Smisek will have health insurance until his is eligible for Medicare, and maintain flight benefits and parking privileges for the remainder of his lifetime. He also gets to keep his company car."
1. As long as $mi$ek gets lifetime GS benefits, let him be served by the GS agents that he forced to take a pay cut and work from home or better yet, let him be assigned to one of the agents who he fired.
2. Define $mi$ek's "lifetime" benefits the same way that he defined "lifetime" for his customers.
Do you think this guy will even have the guts to fly on a UA aircraft, even if its free? I read once that so many people hated him so much that even before being fired, he needed a security entourage to keep him safe while he travelled on his own airline.
Last edited by FlyWorld; Sep 8, 2015 at 7:49 pm
#354
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
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Posts: 3,283
Wow. 4 hours later and this thread is already 25 pages long.
He keeps his free flight privileges and free parking as part of his resignation deal. Of course if he's in jail it won't do him any good.
In the end I wonder if anyone can make it palatable for me to fly UA ever again.
He keeps his free flight privileges and free parking as part of his resignation deal. Of course if he's in jail it won't do him any good.
In the end I wonder if anyone can make it palatable for me to fly UA ever again.
#355
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
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Corporations will always do maximum preventative damage control to avoid hurting their brand.
#356
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,847
I agree. They may not be "guilty" of a crime, but they aren't blameless. They either did something they shouldn't have, or allowed others to do something they shouldn't have. And for that, they clearly became a liability to the company.
Last edited by halls120; Sep 9, 2015 at 4:41 am
#357
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
1. Smisek was not fired for the performance of the airline. He was fired to minimize the trouble UA is in right now. That's the ONLY reason. There's no logical correlation to thinking changes are coming to the airline.
2. Munoz may be just an interim CEO, and may be fairly powerless.
2. Munoz may be just an interim CEO, and may be fairly powerless.
Perhaps he is interim, but the announcement does not say this. And he was COO of a major company, gave up that job. I don't see him doing this to be CEO of UAL for 6-9 months while they look for a new CEO. Absent some idea that he might get the gig permanently, I don't see him quitting his old job...
Just listened to Fast Money on TV. Great investor show. The new CEO is TEMPORARY. Drafted ASAP from the Board as current CEO is out. So there will be a search. Overall this is not good news for UA as it underscores a bit of chaos. Let's hope this is a restart button. UA a great (was) airlines. Let's see how the stock does tomorrow. That will tell us a lot of where this airlines is going over the next few months.
Oscar is CO blood. Not sure if he represents the same views as Rainey, Smisek, the rest of the CO crew, but I'm amazed that Smisek & Co is tied to something possibly criminal regarding the PANYNJ. Really unbelievable. I never pegged him to be mixed up with that kind of greasy jersey scum.
+1. Great symbolism. Done in by the "queen of the CO fleet"
#358
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Posts: 462
I sincerely doubt Munoz is temporary. Why would he quit a well paying job being President at CSX for a temporary job? It makes no sense. He even said he wanted to come to a bigger company and has customer service experience.
#359
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Australia
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Posts: 148
Smisek is out, and R availability is unchanged. That's all I need to know.
#360
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As someone who abandoned CO a long time ago in part due to Jeff Smisek, all I can say is congrats UA pax, this has to be a good thing for you guys
Last edited by goalie; Sep 8, 2015 at 8:09 pm Reason: off topic comments derogatory comments removed