Jeff Smisek

Jeffery Alan Smisek (born August 17, 1954) is an American businessman, who is the president of GOOSE Capital and on the board of directors of Finch Therapeutics. Smisek previously worked in the airline industry as the chairman, president, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Continental Airlines and, later, of United Airlines as a result of the United/Continental merger.

Early life and education Smisek was born in 1954. His father, Raymond, was a World War II bomber pilot. Smisek grew up on military bases around the United States and Europe until his parents permanently moved to San Antonio in 1963. Smisek graduated summa cum laude with an A.B. in economics from Princeton University in 1976 after completing a 74-page long senior thesis titled "Zoning and Non-Zoning in the Urban Property Market: An Empirical Study of Princeton, New Jersey." He received a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1982.

Career Smisek started his career as a banker for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, now JP Morgan. In 2004, Smisek became president and was elected to Continental's board of directors. He became chief operating officer in September 2008 and CEO in January 2010.

United Airlines (2010–2015) As a wave of consolidation hit the airline industry in 2008, Smisek led negotiations to merge Continental with United Airlines. From 2010 to 2015, Smisek tripled the value of United's stock. Difficulties stemming from the merger of United and Continental led to initial complaints over customer service, employee satisfaction, and problems with the integration of Continental. However, by late 2014 Smisek had regained the trust of Wall Street analysts after a strategy of cost cuts, share buybacks and conservative expansion of capacities. Smisek resigned from United on September 8, 2015, following accusations that the airline had attempted to influence officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Smisek was never charged with wrongdoing and instead Port Authority Chairman David Samson was convicted of a felony for impeding an airport project to coerce United Airlines to fly to Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina, near a home that he owned. Smisek left United Airlines with a severance payment worth $28.8 million.

Finch Therapeutics In February 2017, Smisek led the $5.6 million Series A financing of Finch Therapeutics,

GOOSE Capital In January 2021, GOOSE Capital—an investment firm composed of former Fortune 500 executives, industry leaders, and serial entrepreneurs—selected Smisek to serve as its president.

Personal life Smisek is married to Diana Strassmann, an American economist, and has two children.