SOUTHLAKE, Texas (AP) — Sabre Holdings, owner of online travel agency Travelocity, said Wednesday that former Continental Airlines CEO Larry Kellner will become its chairman.
Privately-held Sabre separated the roles of CEO and chairman when Tom Klein became CEO last month, replacing Sam Gilliland, who remained on the board of directors.
Kellner was chief financial officer, president, chief operating officer and finally chairman and CEO at Continental. He left the airline in 2009 to join a private equity firm. Continental was acquired by United Airlines the following year. He is on the boards of Boeing Co., Chubb Corp. and Marriott International Inc.
Sabre originated as the technology division of American Airlines and was spun off as a separate company in 2000. Private equity firms TPG and Silver Lake Partners took it private in 2007. It provides technology services to airlines and other travel companies.