Southwest Airlines Announces Leadership Changes; Airline Names New Vice Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents

DALLAS, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines recently announced Bob Jordan as the carrier's Executive Vice President of Strategy, Procurement, and Technology, and Ron Ricks, Executive Vice President of Law, Airports, and Public Affairs. Both Leadership positions, effective in September, report to Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chief Executive Officer. (Visit http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/value=open/type=jpg for a photo of Southwest's Leaders).

In their new roles, Jordan is responsible for Southwest's Technology, Purchasing, Facilities, Fuel Management, and Airport Security Departments. He also will direct the development and implementation of the Company's Strategic Plan. Ricks leads Southwest's Legal and Properties (corporate real estate) Departments, airport relationships, and governmental and regulatory affairs (federal, state and local).

"I cannot think of two individuals who deserve this promotion more," Kelly said. "Ron's 25 years of Southwest experience, having come from the law firm our Executive Chairman, Herb Kelleher, founded; and Bob's diverse job history, many years of Southwest experience, and his vision; will help them lead Southwest's innovations in support of our low cost mission far into the future."

Jordan began his 18-year career at Southwest as a Programmer Analyst in Technology. He then held various positions in Finance, including Manager of Sales Accounting, Director of Sales Accounting, Director of Revenue Accounting, and Controller. Bob was promoted to Vice President of Purchasing and Fuel, served as Vice President of Technology, and most recently, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Spend Management before moving into his current position. Bob earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and MBA from Texas A&M University.

Ricks serves on the Senior Management Committee, the airline's senior officer group, and the Executive Planning Committee, the eight-member executive officer group for strategic and longrange planning. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and earned his law degree in 1976 from The National Law Center at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.

Southwest also announced three additional leadership changes: * Jan Marshall, recently Chief Development Officer, has been promoted to Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer, reporting to Bob Jordan. * Kerry Schwab, recently Director of Application Architecture, has been promoted to Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, reporting to Jan Marshall. * Lori Rainwater, new to the Southwest Airlines Family, has been named Vice President of Internal Audit, reporting to Gary Kelly.

"As Southwest continues to grow and innovate, so does the depth of our Leadership," Kelly said. "The knowledge and experience of our Leaders is tremendous. I congratulate Bob, Ron, Jan, Kerry, and Lori on their new roles and responsibilities."

After 35 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to offer the best value in airline travel. Southwest Customers can travel nonstop throughout the country at a very low fare. Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest does not charge Customers an extra fee for changing their reservation and continues to offer free amenities. Customers enjoy complimentary pillows, blankets, snacks, juice, soda, and water on all flights.

Since 1987, the airline has maintained the fewest overall Customer complaints as published in the Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report. Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 63 cities in 32 states (service to Washington Dulles began Oct. 5, 2006). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,150 flights a day and has more than 32,000 Employees systemwide.

http://www.southwest.com/