Ex AirTran CEO in at Spirit Airlines. What about Ben?
Spirit Airlines, Inc. has announced Robert L. Fornaro has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately succeeding Ben Baldanza.
According to the airline;
“Fornaro, a seasoned airline executive with more than 35 years of experience in a variety of senior leadership and advisory roles, succeeds Ben Baldanza, who joined Spirit in 2005 as Chief Operating Officer and served as President and CEO since 2006.”
Ben Baldanza was instrumental in transitioning Spirit into America’s first ultra low-cost carrier following the Ryanair model.
Robert Fornaro was appointed to the Spirit Airlines Board of Directors in May 2014. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran Holdings Inc. from November 2007 to May 2011, after which he served as a consultant to Southwest Airlines Co. and AirTran Airways Inc. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of AirTran Airways Inc. from March 2001 to November 2007 and as President and Chief Financial Officer from March 1999 to August 2000. He has also served as Senior Vice President of Planning for US Airways and as Senior Vice President of Marketing Planning at Northwest Airlines. He served as the Chairman of AirTran Airways Inc. from May 2008 to May 2011 and served on its board from 2001 to May 2011. He served as Chairman of the Board of AirTran Holdings Inc. from 2008 to May 2011.
