DALLAS, Sept. 26,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines
Co. (NYSE: LUV) today is celebrating the contributions of
President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven, an industry veteran and proven
Leader, who announced plans to step down from his role as Chief
Operating Officer (COO) at the end of September and from his role
as President at the end of December. Mike will become an Executive
Advisor for the Company at the start of 2023. With this
announcement, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Jordan will assume the additional role of
President, effective Jan. 1,
2023.
"I want to thank Mike for nearly three decades of Leadership and
his unwavering commitment to the cause that is Southwest Airlines.
We would not be where we are today without his countless
contributions," said Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan. "Mike has spent more than 16 years
overseeing our operation as Chief of Operations and Chief Operating
Officer, helping to usher in a new era for Southwest Airlines
through a series of major initiatives, including modernizing our
fleet, achieving ETOPS certification, and allowing us to expand our
footprint to Hawaii—just to name a few—all the while serving as a
champion for our People."
The transition paves the way for several other leadership
changes, effective Oct. 1, 2022:
Andrew Watterson is promoted
from Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer
to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Watterson joined Southwest
Airlines in 2013 with a wealth of commercial and operational
experience—from time serving the U.S. Army, to consulting air
carriers across the globe in airline operations at both
Oliver Wyman and Ernst & Young,
and in leadership at Hawaiian Airlines. In his new role, Watterson
will provide Executive Leadership to Flight Operations, Inflight
Operations, Crew Scheduling, Cargo & Charters, Customer Support
& Services, Ground Operations, Hospitality Operations
Support, Labor Relations, Network Operations
Control, Regulatory Programs & Compliance, Operations
Strategy, Performance & Design, Safety & Security, and
Technical Operations. Additionally, he will continue to
oversee the airline's Network Planning Department. Watterson holds
a bachelor's degree from Washington
University in St. Louis and
a master's in business administration with a concentration in
Operations Management from Vanderbilt
University.
Ryan Green is promoted from
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer to
Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer. In
addition to his continued Leadership of the Marketing and Customer
Experience & Engagement departments, Green will provide
oversight to the Commercial Planning, Revenue Management &
Pricing, and Southwest Business departments. Green is a 20-year
Southwest veteran, where he has served in a number of capacities
focusing on fostering brand loyalty while looking toward future
growth and revenue opportunities. Green holds a bachelor's degree
in Marketing from Texas A&M University.
Linda Rutherford is promoted
from Executive Vice President People & Communications &
Chief Communications Officer to Chief Administration &
Communications Officer. Rutherford currently leads Southwest's
Communications & Outreach; Culture & Engagement; Diversity,
Equity & Inclusion; People (Human Resources); Southwest
Airlines University; Talent & Leadership Development; and Total
Rewards departments. In addition to these responsibilities, she
will provide Executive Leadership to the Technology and Internal
Audit departments, and Southwest's Chief Information Officer and
Internal Audit Vice President will report to Linda. She is a
30-year Southwest veteran with a bachelor's degree in Journalism
from Texas Tech University.
Jordan continued, "Mike has led with heart while playing a
critical role in transforming our operational capabilities to
enable our growth and prosperity. He, alongside his Teams, have
laid the foundation to modernize many areas of our complex business
and his guidance has kept us moving forward—momentum we can build
upon for generations. Mike will spend the next several months
working alongside me, Andrew, Linda and our operational Leaders as
he works to transition his existing duties. We are so fortunate to
have a deep and talented bench of Leaders to carry on our Legacy
and take us to new heights, and I want to congratulate Andrew,
Ryan, and Linda on their well-deserved promotions. We are in good
hands with their expertise, Leadership, and LUV for our
People."
"The entire Southwest Family—past and present—owes Mike a
tremendous debt of gratitude for his steady Leadership, resolve,
and fortitude all these many years. He is a Servant Leader for our
People, a trusted confidant to our Leadership Team, and a wonderful
ambassador for Southwest Airlines. I, too, am grateful that he will
continue to contribute to our ongoing success in his new role,"
said Southwest's Executive Chairman Gary
Kelly.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most
admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and
Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Celebrating its
50th Anniversary in 2021, Southwest took flight in 1971 to
democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air
travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within
the United States than any other
airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first
corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of
no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering
its more than 62,0002 People to deliver
unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a
passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a
year. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity
and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for
Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique
legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including
harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities
at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting
Southwest.com/citizenship. Southwest is also continuing to develop
tangible steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,
including offering Customers an opportunity to help the airline
offset its carbon emissions. To be part of the solution, visit
Southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon.
1) U.S. Dept. of Transportation most recent reporting of
domestic originating passengers boarded
2) Fulltime-equivalent active Employees
3) 1973-2019
annual profitability
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-announces-leadership-changes-301633487.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.