Midwest Air Group Announces Board Appointments

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Midwest Air Group, Inc., parent company of Midwest Airlines, today announced appointments to its new board of directors. The board will oversee the strategy and performance of the company, which was acquired by TPG Capital on January 31.

John F. Bergstrom is chairman and chief executive officer of Neenah, Wis.-based Bergstrom Corp., which owns and operates 23 automotive dealerships. Bergstrom also serves as a director of Kimberly-Clark Corp., Wisconsin Energy Corp. and the Green Bay Packers. Bergstrom Corp. has been named one of the top 50 automotive dealer groups in the U.S.

Jonathan Garfinkel is a vice president with TPG Capital. Prior to joining TPG, he was with Newbridge Latin America and Lehman Brothers. Garfinkel is a director of Aleris International, Inc. and Education for Change, an Oakland, Cal. operator of charter schools.

Timothy E. Hoeksema, chief executive officer of Midwest Airlines, will serve as chairman of the new board. Hoeksema has served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Midwest Airlines since its incorporation in 1983. He is a director of the Marcus Corp., the Air Transport Association, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce and the Spirit of Milwaukee.

Richard P. Schifter has been a partner with TPG Capital since 1994. Prior to joining TPG, he was a partner at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in corporate restructuring law. Schifter is a director of the Bristol Group; LPL Holdings, Inc.; Ariel Reinsurance Company Ltd.; and the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He previously served on the boards of America West Airlines, US Airways and Ryanair.

David N. Siegel is chairman and chief executive officer of Gate Gourmet Group Inc., a global airline catering and logistics provider. Prior to joining Gate Gourmet in 2004, Siegel served as president, chief executive and a board member of US Airways Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc., the airline operating unit. He has also served as chairman and chief executive officer of Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. and as a senior vice president of Continental Airlines.

Elizabeth (Betsey) T. Solberg has served as a senior partner and co-chair of the worldwide operating committee and regional president of Fleishman-Hillard, a leading global public relations firm. Solberg opened F-H's office in Kansas City, the firm's first outside of its St. Louis headquarters. She currently operates her own strategic communications firm, Communications Partners LLC. Solberg is a director of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and is a leader in civic, cultural and educational groups in Kansas City.

About TPG Capital

TPG Capital is the global buyout group of TPG, a leading private investment firm founded in 1992, with more than $35 billion of assets under management and offices in San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, New York, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, Melbourne, Menlo Park, Moscow, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. TPG Capital has extensive experience with global public and private investments executed through leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, spinouts, joint ventures and restructurings. TPG Capital's investments span a variety of industries including travel, technology, retail/consumer, media and communications, industrials, financial services and healthcare. Please visit http://www.tpg.com.

About Midwest Airlines

Midwest Airlines features jet service throughout the United States, including Milwaukee's most daily nonstop flights and best schedule to major destinations. Catering to business travelers and discerning leisure travelers, the airline earned its reputation as "The best care in the air" by providing passengers with impeccable service and onboard amenities at competitive fares. More information is available at http://www.midwestairlines.com.