Leader Shuffle: Ted Christie Steps Down as Spirit CEO

‍DALLAS — Spirit Aviation Holdings, parent company of Spirit Airlines (NK), has announced that its President and CEO, Ted Christie, will step down from the Company and the Board of Directors, effective today, Monday, April 7, 2025.

Matt Klein, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, will also step down. Rana Ghosh will succeed him as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.

To lead the Company until the new CEO is appointed, NK has set up an interim Office of the President. The Office consists of Fred Cromer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; John Bendoraitis, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Thomas Canfield, Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

In January, NK eliminated approximately 200 nonunion positions across various departments as part of its ongoing restructuring following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November 2024. 

The ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), which employed around 13,000 people at its bankruptcy filing, was aligning its organizational structure with its current fleet size and operations. The airline emerged from its financial restructuring last month, completing "a consensual, deleveraging transaction that equitizes approximately $795 million of funded debt."

Comments from Spirit Airlines Chairman

"On behalf of the Board and the Spirit team, I thank Ted for his tireless efforts over the course of his 13 years at the Company. He has seen a lot and done a lot during his tenure here, including navigating the Company through the COVID crisis and multiple strategic junctures, as well as most recently, a corporate restructuring. Ted has kept the company together through challenging times, and for this we wish him all the best going forward," said Robert Milton, Chairman of Spirit Airlines.

"Spirit owes thanks to Matt for his many contributions since arriving in 2016, and we all wish him the best," Milton continued. "We are also enthusiastic to welcome Rana into his new role."  

Christie joined NK in April 2012 and became CEO on January 1, 2019. According to the press release, the Board of Directors is in the process of appointing a permanent replacement for the position.

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