William Cassidy | Jul 12, 2011 11:41AM EDT
Greatwide Logistics tapped John P. Tague, the former president of United Airlines, as chief executive officer, succeeding veteran trucking executive Leo Suggs.
Suggs, who ran Overnite Transportation and Preston Trucking, will retire as CEO but remain chairman of Greatwide. He joined the company in 2009.
Greatwide is the 16th largest trucking operator in the U.S., with $1 billion in revenue in 2010, according to data prepared by SJ Consulting Group, Pittsburgh.
The company, which specializes in dedicated refrigerated transportation, expanded its revenue 15 percent last year and acquired Overton Transportation in January.
Greatwide, purchased by Centerbridge Partners and The D.E. Shaw Group in February 2009, has restructured its leadership over the past two years.
Tague brings decades of experience in the airline industry to Greatwide, both with former industry giant UAL and smaller struggling passenger airlines.
“As the former president of United Airlines, John Tague brings successful experience managing and growing a large, sophisticated logistics operation,” Suggs said.
Although he spent most of the past decade with United and parent company UAL, Tague is also remembered for his role as president of ATA Holdings.
In the 1990s, Tague expanded ATA from a charter business to a scheduled airline, buying new planes and building a network of flights from its Chicago hub.
Tague left ATA for United Airlines in 2002, two years before ATA Holdings entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. ATA Airlines shut down in 2008.
Tague held several positions at United and UAL, finally serving as president of United Airlines. He resigned after United’s merger with Continental in 2010.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc