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The company suffered its first onboard passenger fatality in 2018, the grounding of its Boeing 737 Max fleet in 20 and threats to furlough workers unless they agreed to wage cuts, although the last issue was avoided through government payroll support. Kelly has also had to navigate the airline through trouble and controversy. He’s led the company through major ups and downs including the 2008 financial crisis and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic, where Southwest responded by adding 19 new destinations and managing to come out in a stronger financial position than any of its competitors. Kelly has been at Southwest for 35 years, working his way up the company’s finance team and finally taking the position as the company’s fifth CEO in 2004. These three top-notch Leaders make for a powerful team to lead us forward.” 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. He is a gifted and experienced executive and well-prepared to take on this important role. “Bob and I have worked side by side for more than 30 years. “On behalf of the Southwest Airlines board of directors, I am delighted to announce Bob Jordan as CEO,” Kelly said. Jordan, 60, executive vice president of corporate services, becomes CEO starting on Feb. Kelly has been CEO since 2004 and has been with Southwest for 35 years, joining as a controller. Southwest said Wednesday that Kelly, 66, will transition to executive chairman and expects to stay in that role at least to 2026. Obviously, a leader can’t go too overboard.Gary Kelly will pass the baton to another longtime Southwest Airlines executive.

Just because you are the CEO or upper management, doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. What leaders can take from Kelly is to showcase a bit of your own personality.
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The company has been profitable ever since its first full year – a rarity in the airline industry. It should come to no surprise that about 80 percent of the Southwest staff said they work at Southwest because of the culture. Now that is one way to raise employee morale!Īt Southwest Airlines, employees have the freedom to be creative, dress casually (and with style on Halloween), and have fun on the job, according to. Instead of using paid actors, Southwest utilizes its own employees for nationwide television and print commercials.

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Though analysts dubbed the Southwest campaign as irresponsible and naïve, it proved to be a success.Īccording to reports, Southwest Airlines has grabbed nearly $1 billion in annual market share, which is in part due to its no-fee baggage policy.īags fly free is now a big part of the Southwest marketing campaign. Those three little words helped Southwest Airlines fly above the competition.
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While some CEOs stay in their massive office and hardly ever crack a smile, Kelly appears to be anywhere and everywhere at any given time interacting with all ranks of employees.Īs Chief Executive of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly maintains his focus on three important areas for the company: low cost, customer service, and its people.īags fly free. Kelly’s attitude toward Halloween is a perfect example of his desire to create a different kind of corporate culture. He has stated he will sacrifice for art – within reason. Iron Man? A vampire? Lady GaGa? We’ll just have to wait and see. Halloween is a big deal at Southwest Airlines – a majority of employees participate in costume contests and will decorate their stations at airports.We can only imagine what Kelly will be for Halloween this year. Over the years, Kelly has dressed up as Gene Simmons from KISS, Captain Jack Sparrow, Edna Turnblad, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, according to.
