CLE757 From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 2 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4031 times:
CHICAGO, March 20 (Reuters) - Cendant Corp (CD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it has named former Continental Airlines (CAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Gordon Bethune as chairman of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services division, effective immediately.
Bethune will continue as nonexecutive chairman at TDS when Cendant completes the spin-off of its travel distribution business early in the fourth quarter of this year, the company said in a statement.
Airwave From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 1117 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3901 times:
Interesting. If memory serves correct, Cendant has something like 20 different brands under TDS, notably Orbitz and CheapTickets. What's more, I also remember an article not too long ago that was saying how services such as Orbitz and Expedia were at the end of their contracts with the carriers and many of the carriers weren't likely to renew in order to cut costs and also centralize ticket sales at their own company site.
All that makes me wonder if Bethune was brought onboard to help drum up (or at least maintain existing) airline business for the new (independent) TDS company.
When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
Antoniemey From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 1503 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3609 times:
Quoting Kappel (Reply 1): Too bad not another airline.. a lot of them (ahem.. DL... ahem NW..) could use his help.
They might get the same or close to the same benefits by their current management reading his book. Since that book pretty much is a step-by-step guide to how he turned Continental around, it's not exactly a big secret how it was done, it's just that peopel tend to forget that it's the simple things that count the most.
Make something Idiot-proof, and the Universe will make a more inept idiot.
Kappel From Suriname, joined Jul 2005, 3533 posts, RR: 19 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3474 times:
Quoting Dl1011 (Reply 4): NW and now DL are VERY anti-employee and Dl appears determined to drive as many people out the door as possible.
That's why those companies need him the most, to turn that around. Look at CO. They were not really considered the cream of the US leagacies now were they? And now look at them, most ppl will agree that CO is one of the most respected US legacies. Heck, I love 'em, much better than some european airlines (gotta love the 764!)
HoosierCFI From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3441 times:
With DL, they might be able to change its current anti-employee culture, but for NW, I can't even remember a time when management and the unions haven't been fighting. I seriously believe that NW will be the next airline to disappear, with a lot of it due to management/labor relations. The only thing keeping them alive now is their monopoly pricing out of DTW and MSP.
Airwave From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 1117 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3405 times:
Quoting Kappel (Reply 5): That's why those companies need him the most, to turn that around.
Simply because he turned around one airline doesn't automatically mean that he'd be able to accomplish it at another. Every airline has its own situation, financial and otherwise. Bethune was very fortunate that things lined up for him at Continental as they did back in the mid-90s. However, I don't think it's a smart policy to expect that he'd be able to pop on down to ATL, wave a magic marker, and bibbity-bobbity-boo! make everything right as rain at DL.
When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
TL8490 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 161 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3405 times:
Gordon will return to be the CEO of the merged DL and NW. It will require someone with his personality to actually pull it off.....Some of his guys are at DL already.
Kappel From Suriname, joined Jul 2005, 3533 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3351 times:
Quoting Airwave (Reply 8): Simply because he turned around one airline doesn't automatically mean that he'd be able to accomplish it at another. Every airline has its own situation, financial and otherwise. Bethune was very fortunate that things lined up for him at Continental as they did back in the mid-90s. However, I don't think it's a smart policy to expect that he'd be able to pop on down to ATL, wave a magic marker, and bibbity-bobbity-boo! make everything right as rain at DL.
Well duh! Of course it doesn't mean that he can automatically and magically turn around any airline. But it does say something about his leadership quality, he didn't turn CO around purely based on good fortune...
DL1011 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 386 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3282 times:
I should have added that I would very much like to see a CEO like Mr Bethune turn DL around. I have absolutely zero faith in the current Management and employee morale (at least in my dept) is at an all time low. A majority of people (once again, in my dept) that I know are actively seeking other employment, returning to school to finish their educations or researching/starting their own business's.
Sorry to turn this into a dl rant. Mr Bethune would be a welcome addition and if he feels the need for a major challenge then dl would be it!
Socalfive From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3052 times:
Quoting Antoniemey (Reply 3): They might get the same or close to the same benefits by their current management reading his book. Since that book pretty much is a step-by-step guide to how he turned Continental around, it's not exactly a big secret how it was done, it's just that peopel tend to forget that it's the simple things that count the most
I agree 100%, however, it's all about EGOs now, unfortunate but true.
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 7): Gordon took over the most anti-employee airline in history and made it somewhat pleasant to work for.
I think he could handle DL or NW
I don't think he wants to work that hard again. Who would? He's done the impossible and is at the top of the heap and I don't think Brennaman wants to join him for another romp like Continental was.
IAHFLYR From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 4717 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2912 times:
Quoting DL1011 (Reply 11): should have added that I would very much like to see a CEO like Mr Bethune turn DL around. I have absolutely zero faith in the current Management and employee morale (at least in my dept) is at an all time low. A majority of people (once again, in my dept) that I know are actively seeking other employment, returning to school to finish their educations or researching/starting their own business's.
Sorry to turn this into a dl rant. Mr Bethune would be a welcome addition and if he feels the need for a major challenge then dl would be it!
A great challenge and I believe he could pull it off however a year to late I fear now!
Any views shared are strictly my own and do not a represent those of any former employer.
Airconti From Germany, joined Jun 2004, 148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (7 years 1 month 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1773 times:
@Fururefa:
Have read an Article by R.Crandall in Dallas Morning News - AFAIK, he enjoys his retirement - mentioned, he wil spend the next years sailing and doing other things, he could not enjoy due to lack of time:
Sponsor Message: 
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