United Airlines has promoted Michael Leskinen to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Mr. Leskinen will oversee corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and analysis, tax, accounting, investor relations and more.
On Friday (September 22, 2023), United Airlines announced the promotion of company insider Michael Leskinen as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Mr. Leskinen will oversee corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and analysis, tax, accounting, investor relations, procurement, internal audit, risk management and corporate strategy. Michael Leskinen joined United in 2018 as Managing Director of Investor Relations, and was later promoted to VP – Corporate Development and Investor Relations in 2019. In 2021, he also added the title of President of United Airlines Ventures (UAV).
In Friday’s personnel announcement, United Airlines’ CEO, Scott Kirby, said,
“With two decades of experience on Wall Street and five years as a leading finance executive at United, Mike brings a unique understanding of the public markets combined with an in depth understanding of our airline and our industry. He is the best person to help us drive a culture within our finance team that's focused on moving fast, hitting our targets with no excuses, and being disciplined about capital and cost decision-making that supports our United Next plan. I know Mike will bring a strong and independent strategic perspective to the table when we're making decisions about United's future.”
During the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Mr. Leskinen led United’s multi-divisional team that successfully raised $6.8 billion in financing secured by the carrier’s MileagePlus loyalty program. Subsequently, he oversaw the launch of a nearly $200 million corporate investment fund that includes investments from UAV and other sponsors in support of start-ups focusing on the acceleration and research of SAF production.
Before joining United, Mr. Leskinen was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management (2013-2017), and also worked at Oppenheimer Funds focused on the aerospace sector ((2009-2013). He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University and his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. Leskinen succeeds United’s previous CFO, Gerry Laderman, who will serve as Executive Vice President – Finance until his planned retirement in September 2024.
At United Airlines, ‘Good Leads the Way.’ The airline operates the most comprehensive network among North American carriers with U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. As measured by available seat miles (ASMs), United is now the world’s largest airline. Shares in the company’s parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., are publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol ‘UAL.’
Source: United Airlines/PRNewswire