Bio

The sky’s the limit for Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Airlines!

Joining the Delta family in 1998 as Vice President - Finance and Controller, Ed was soon promoted to Senior Vice President in 2000. In 2004 he was named Chief Financial Officer and was instrumental in leading Delta through its restructuring. A short three years later, Ed was appointed President of Delta. He strengthened the company’s financial foundation through debt reduction, innovation and revenue growth. He was also responsible for overseeing commercial and international functions as well as bolstering the airline’s global network.

In May 2016, Delta Airlines choose the OLL graduate to serve as its Chief Executive Officer. Ed was given the task of inspiring the spirit of innovation and to champion the company’s customer-driven, employee-driven culture - a job he takes seriously. Ed sums it up by saying the most important thing is “Taking care of our people.”  His leadership philosophy is based on the “virtuous circle.”  When a company takes care of its employees, they take care of the customers, whose loyalty allows Delta to reward their investors.

One of nine children to attend Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Ed went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University. In an article written in the Poughkeepsie Journal on April 6, 2016 , Mary Bastian, Ed’s mother commented that her son is “selfless, unassuming and does not have any pretense. He is a great father to his four children. It would be hard to say anything other than wonderful things about him.”

Ed, his wife Anna and their four children split their time between Atlanta and Florida.