Continental Airlines has announced that its senior vice president customer experience, David Grizzle, 54, has informed the company that he has decided to retire effective Sept. 19, 2008 to pursue other commercial and charitable activities.

“David has been a dedicated and valued member of our senior management team during his 23 years at Continental,” said Larry Kellner, Continental’s chairman and chief executive officer. “He has contributed greatly to our airline by focusing on the customer and using creativity to resolve issues. We will miss him, and wish him well in this next phase of his career.”

Grizzle has held various positions during his tenure at Continental. He has served as senior vice president of marketing strategy and corporate development and was vice president of legal and corporate affairs for Texas Air Corporation, the former parent company of Continental. He joined New York Airlines (which later merged with Continental Airlines) in 1984 as vice president of administration and general counsel. During a leave of absence from Continental in late 2004 and 2005, Grizzle served in Afghanistan as transportation and infrastructure coordinator for the U.S. Department of State.

“No airline has a more consistent and methodical commitment than Continental to improve the customer experience, and that focus will continue and expand long after my departure,” said Grizzle.

Grizzle will continue to serve as senior vice president customer experience until the effective date of his retirement.
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