WASHINGTON — Gordon Bethune, turnaround expert and former Continental Airlines executive, is the scheduled keynote speaker at the 2011 Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention and Exposition, to be held April 13-16, 2011, at McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill. He will discuss confronting challenges in an address called “The Ultimate Turnaround: From Worst to First” scheduled for Friday, April 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Bethune spearheaded one of the most dramatic corporate turnarounds in U.S. history while at Continental Airlines. When he joined the company as president and COO in February of 1994, Continental consistently ranked last in every measurable performance metric. Bethune became CEO in late 1994, and was elected chairman of the board of directors in 1996.


When he finished at Continental, the airline emerged as the industry leader. His varied knowledge, from CEO to mechanic, allowed him to lead Continental Airlines’ recovery, observers say.

Bethune is also the author of a bestselling bookFrom Worst to First, which has been called “refreshingly straightforward” byBusiness Week. Bethune is also a frequent contributor to CNBC.

For more information on the 2011 AMI Expo, visithttp://www.amiexpo.com/orhttp://www.amiexpo2011.com/.