Newsmakers: Gitner And Goodmanson Take The Controls At TWA and AWA

The boards of directors of America West Airlines and Trans World Airlines elected new chief executive officers last month.

Gerald Gitner, 51, who was serving as acting CEO for TWA following Jeffery Erickson's departure in December, accepted the TWA board's offer to become chairman and CEO. Gitner, chairman of New York-based investment bank Avalon Group Ltd., had initially refused to take the spot, said Thomas Meagher, executive committee chairman and lead director of the TWA board.

"I am very pleased that Gerry Gitner has agreed to the Board's repeated requests that he take on this challenge," he said. "Frankly, we could have saved a lot of time and effort if Gerry had said yes the first time we asked him to become CEO, which was very early in the search process."

Gitner, who worked for TWA from 1968 through 1974 and later became an executive at Pan Am and Texas Air, said, "I am honored by the confidence that the board has shown in me, and I look forward to this new challenge. TWA is a good company with a glorious history and great intrinsic value. With proper management, TWA can again be a successful airline." The promotion was announced over a vote of no confidence by TWA's machinists union, which claims Gitner plans to reduce the airline to one hub-St. Louis. Gitner denied the claim.

At America West, Richard R. Goodmanson, 49, was elected president of America West Holdings Corp. and president and chief executive officer of America West Airlines. Goodmanson, a native of Australia, received his American citizenship last month, which is a federal prerequisite to becoming the CEO of a U.S. flag carrier.

Goodmanson, who has lived in the United States for over 13 years, most recently served as AWA's executive vice president and chief operating officer, following stints with Frito-Lay and McKinsey and Co. He replaces W.A. Franke, who will remain as chairman of the airline and chairman and CEO of its parent company.