DALLAS, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced that
Chairman and CEO Gary
Kelly will transition roles in early 2022, becoming the
carrier's Executive Chairman with the desire to serve in that role
through at least 2026 at the discretion of the Board of
Directors. Executive Vice President Corporate Services Robert Jordan will become Kelly's successor
as CEO effective Feb. 1, 2022. Jordan
also will join the Board at that time.
"On behalf of the Southwest Airlines Board of Directors, I am
delighted to announce Bob Jordan as
CEO," Kelly said. "Bob and I have worked side by side for more than
30 years. He is a gifted and experienced executive and
well-prepared to take on this important role. Working closely with
President Tom Nealon and Chief
Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven,
we will begin developing transition plans in the coming weeks and
months. These three top-notch Leaders make for a powerful team to
lead us forward."
Serving as CEO since 2004, Kelly, 66, has led Southwest through
some of the airline industry's most turbulent times. Kelly is a
35-year Southwest veteran who began his career at Southwest
Airlines as Controller, moving up to Chief Financial Officer and
Vice President Finance, then Executive Vice President and CFO,
before being promoted to CEO and Vice Chairman in July 2004. He assumed the roles of Chairman and
President in 2008. In January 2017,
Kelly relinquished the title of President and named former
Southwest Board Member and Executive Tom
Nealon to the executive team as President. Prior to joining
Southwest Airlines in 1986, Kelly was a CPA for Arthur Young & Company in Dallas and Controller for Systems Center,
Inc.
Kelly has often said his biggest source of pride is the fact
that Southwest Airlines has never had a single layoff or furlough
in the airline's 50-year history. As CEO, he has guided the
airline's transformation through several major initiatives,
including the acquisition of AirTran Airways, the repeal of the
Wright Amendment, the launch of international destinations for the
first time in Southwest's history, the installment of a new
reservation system, introduction of a new frequent flyer program,
debut of the new Heart brand and livery, initiation of the
long-awaited service to Hawaii,
and the introduction of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into the airline's
fleet —all while staying true to the Company's core values and
People-centric Culture.
"The airline has a strong Leadership team, and the Board has
always taken seriously its role to oversee a strong succession plan
for the top Leadership roles," said William
Cunningham, Southwest's Lead Director on the Board. "Gary
has been an outstanding CEO for Southwest for nearly two decades
and has developed an excellent group of Senior Leaders to shepherd
the airline into its next 50 years. We are thrilled he is willing
to continue to serve as the Board's Executive Chairman, subject to
the annual elections process. Bob inherits a solid strategy and
great momentum to continue the airline's recovery as the COVID
pandemic wanes. Bob has the Board's full support."
Jordan, 60, is a long-time Southwest Executive with broad and
deep experience. Joining the airline in 1988, he has served in
roles including Director of Revenue Accounting, Corporate
Controller, Vice President Procurement, Vice President Technology,
Senior Vice President Enterprise Spend Management, Executive Vice
President Strategy and Technology, Executive Vice President and
Chief Commercial Officer, AirTran President and Executive Vice
President Corporate Services. During his tenure, he has led
numerous significant transformational projects, including the
acquisition of AirTran Airways, the development of the new
southwest.com e-commerce platform, the Rapid Rewards loyalty
program, and our enhanced boarding process. Most recently, Jordan
led the efforts for the Company's voluntary leave and early
separation programs, which were key to reducing the airline's labor
expenses during the pandemic and instrumental in avoiding layoffs
and furlough actions.
Prior to Southwest, Jordan worked for Hewlett-Packard as a
programmer and financial analyst. He holds bachelor's and master's
degrees from Texas A&M University.
He joined Coppell-based The
Container Store's Board of Directors in 2013 and currently serves
as its Lead Director. He and wife, Kelly, live in Flower Mound and have two adult children and
two grandchildren.
"I'm humbled, honored, and excited to be asked to serve as the
next CEO," Jordan said. "The Heart of Southwest is our People; they
make the difference for our Customers, and I look forward to
serving them. We have a terrific team of Leaders, many of whom I
have had the joy of working alongside for decades. I'm looking
forward to working with Gary, Mike and Tom on the transition effort
and setting up Southwest for the next 50 years of giving Customers
the Freedom to Fly."
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million
Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of
point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure
and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest
operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101
destinations in the United States
and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs,
Calif.; Steamboat Springs;
and Montrose (Telluride/Crested
Butte), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest has initiated
service to Chicago (O'Hare) and
Sarasota/ Bradenton, both on Feb.
14; Savannah/Hilton Head and
Colorado Springs, Colo., both on
March 11; Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif., both on April 12; Fresno,
Calif., on April
25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; Myrtle Beach
S.C., on May 23; Bozeman, Mont., on May
27; and Jackson, Miss., on June 6. The airline will
begin service to Eugene, Ore., on
Aug. 29; Bellingham, Wash., on Nov. 7; and Syracuse,
NY, on Nov. 14.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in
May 2020 to highlight new and
round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees
well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning
efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal
mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times
throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest
Promise are available
at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its
purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and
low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S.
airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and
second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in
qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees,
though fare differences might apply.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world,
known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the
carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of
its People and the communities they serve, and an overall
commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the
carrier gives back to communities across the world by
visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at
Southwest.com or by phone at
1-800-I-FLY-SWA®.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.