Hollis Harris Quits Top Spot at Continental

Continental Airlines Chairman Hollis Harris resigned in a management shake-up Wednesday, a day after the troubled carrier announced cuts in staff, service and the size of its aircraft fleet.

Harris, 59, stepped down as head of Continental Airlines Holdings Inc., the airline’s parent, almost a year after taking over the financially strapped carrier.

Continental, which has been in bankruptcy court since December, named Robert R. Ferguson III as president and chief executive of Continental Airlines Holdings. Ferguson was also named to the board of the holding company and becomes vice chairman and chief executive of Continental Airlines.

Lewis Jordan was named president and chief operating officer of Houston-based Continental Airlines.

Resigning with Harris at a late Wednesday board meeting was R. Lamar Durrett, the executive vice president for personnel and administration.

“After much soul-searching, the board of directors and Messrs. Harris and Durrett reached the mutual conclusion that a change in leadership was appropriate,” spokesman Art Kent said.

The airline filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code last Dec. 10.

Last month, it posted a second-quarter loss of $109 million. On Tuesday, Continental announced a restructuring that including eliminating 600 airport and cargo jobs, suspending 133 daily flights and taking 22 leased airplanes out of service.

Harris came from Delta Air Lines to replace Frank Lorenzo last August. Harris was president and chief operating officer of Atlanta-based Delta, having risen from a position as transportation agent in 1954.