Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> May 29, 2000
JOSEPH LEONARD is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran
Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, AirTran Airlines, Inc. and AirTran
Airways, Inc. He joined AirTran in January 1999. A 30-year veteran of
the commercial air transport industry, Mr. Leonard most recently served
as President and CEO of AlliedSignal, Inc.'s Aerospace Marketing, Sales
& Service organization, which comprised the company's global sales,
marketing customer support, repair and overhaul, worldwide commercial
spares and military customer support functions. Mr. Leonard joined
AlliedSignal in September 1993 to head Marketing, Sales & Service, where
he was credited with improving customer satisfaction for the aerospace
unit and leading growth strategy for the company. He was also a Senior
Vice President of AlliedSignal, Inc. and a member of the corporation's
Executive Council. Prior to joining AlliedSignal, Mr. Leonard held a
wide range of executive positions. These included Chief Operating
Officer for Eastern Air Lines, as well as a number of key management
positions at American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and the Boeing
Company. Mr. Leonard is a native of Augusta, Georgia and received his
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University. Profile
AirTran, just to set the stage for readers?
Mr. Leonard: Yes. AirTran was started, in 1995 or 1996 ' I'm not sure of
the exact
