Western Airlines Elects Grinstein as Chairman

Gerald Grinstein, as expected, has been elected chairman of Western Airlines, effective Jan. 31. Grinstein has been a member of Western’s board since 1977 and became the airline’s president and chief operating officer in 1984 and chief executive in January, 1985. Grinstein succeeds Lawrence H. Lee, who announced his retirement last May. Lee will remain on the Western board and will be chairman of the board’s executive committee.

Grinstein, 53, has gained a reputation as an innovator. Some time after he joined Western’s management, an industry observer described him as a “breath of fresh air” who is “unencumbered by all the old habits” of the industry.

It was Grinstein, while on the board and later as president, who helped devise the solution to Western’s severe financial problems. He devised a plan to help reduce Western’s debt, bringing about a permanent reduction in the company’s wage costs, its biggest single cost.

Before coming to Western full time, Grinstein was a partner in the Seattle law firm of Preston, Thorgrimson, Ellis & Holman. He has also been counsel to the Senate marine and transportation subcommittee and chief counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee.