Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> May 7, 2001
JOSEPH B. LEONARD is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran
Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiary, AirTran Airways, Inc. He joined
Airtran Airways 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. 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. He maintains residences in Orlando, Florida, and
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Profile
profile of the company as it is now?
Mr. Leonard: AirTran Airways is a combination of an airline which was
started in
