Southwest Airlines Announces Executive Changes

June 30, 2014
Among the promotions, Jack Smith, currently Southwest Airlines' vice president of ground operations, is being promoted to senior vice president of operations, overseeing technical operations, ground operations, and cargo and charters.

DALLAS, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Smith, currently Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Ground Operations, is being promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing Technical Operations, Ground Operations, and Cargo and Charters. Jack is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, joining Southwest from AirTran Airways, where he served as Senior Vice President of Customer Service.  His aviation career includes leadership roles in Ground Operations, Inflight, Cargo, Reservations, and Customer Relations.  

Steve Goldberg, currently Managing Director of Ground Operations, is being promoted to Vice President of Ground Operations.  Steve joined Southwest in 1996 and has served as Managing Director since 2013. Steve will oversee airport operations at Southwest's 93 airports, including responsibility for 15,000 Ground Operations Employees.

Jim Sokol, the Company's longtime Vice President of Maintenance Operations, has announced his decision to retire, effective Sept. 15, 2014.

"Jim's contributions to our Operation, our Fleet, and our People guided the Maintenance Operation through the most challenging years our industry has experienced," says Mike Van de Ven, Southwest's Chief Operating Officer. "Under his Leadership, Southwest has remained a resilient and efficient operation benchmarked by companies around the globe."

Landon Nitschke will step into the Vice President of Maintenance Operations role opening as a result of Sokol's retirement. Landon currently serves as Senior Director of Maintenance. Prior to Southwest, Landon's airline career included the position of Managing Director of Line Maintenance at Northwest/Delta Airlines. He started his maintenance career in 1992 as an Aviation Maintenance Technician for Northwest/Delta.  Landon's responsibilities include ensuring safe and reliable aircraft to Southwest Customers and Crew Members.  This includes maintaining a fleet of nearly 700 aircraft.

The promotions for Jack, Steve, and Landon are effective July 1, 2014. 

"This is a pivotal year for Southwest, and these individuals possess the Leadership we need in the face of increasing operational complexity," said Van de Ven.  "I am confident that these are leaders who will position Southwest for new opportunities and future growth." 

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 44th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 45,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Based on the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded.  The airline also operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 93 destinations in 40 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and five near-international countries. Some flights are operated by wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that takes into account the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2013 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

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