EVENT DATE: April 8, 2009
TOPIC: Porter Airlines and new Innovations in Aviation

Don Carty has a distinguished corporate career.  He is chairman of Porter Airlines and Virgin America Airlines (both since 2006).  He is a director of Dell Inc, Hawaiian Airlines, Sears Roebuck, CHC Helicopter Corporation, and Barrick Gold Corporation.  Until last year, he was vice chairman and chief financial officer of Dell Inc (2007-2008).  He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He was previously Chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines (1998-2003).  He joined the airline in 1978 and rose to become Executive Vice President for finance and planning, then President of AMR and American Airlines.  In between, he served as President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Airlines (1985-1987).  Before joining American Airlines, he had worked with Celanese Canada, Air Canada, and Canadian Pacific Railway. 

Mr. Carty was born in Toronto, graduated from Queen’s University and Harvard Business School, and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s.  He and his wife, Ana, live in Dallas, Texas.  He is chairman of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a board trustee of Southern Methodist University, and a board director of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation.