Famous Mormons: David Neeleman and JetBlue
JetBlue Airways Corp. has a new CEO, David Barger. David Neeleman, founder of the company is now the chairman.
Neeleman started JetBlue in 1998. His new role will free him up to spend more time on strategic issues that had been neglected amid the carrier’s rapid growth.
“When you’re a founder and an entrepreneur and you get mired in the operation, it’s not good for anybody,” Neeleman said in an interview.
“This is a much better structure for us going forward,” he said. “That was the board’s recommendation, and I said ‘Great, let’s do it.”‘
The industry pioneer said the new role will give him more time to focus on issues like JetBlue’s Live TV unit, alternative sources of jet fuel, new forms of electronic ticketing, and opportunities afforded by the open skies agreement between the United States and Europe.
Barger, who has worked alongside Neeleman since 1998, said he did not expect significant changes to the company’s strategy.
Neeleman, a Mormon, and a father of nine, was a successful pioneer in the airline industry, shaking up U.S. air travel. In JetBlue, he created a low-fare carrier that offered customer service perks such as live television and leather seats. The airline took its first flight in 2000.