Airline CEO Picks Show New Guard at Carriers Is Pretty Old
- Southwest turns to a 33-year company veteran to replace Kelly
- U.S. carriers hired from within eight of nine times since ‘16
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The leadership transition at Southwest Airlines Co. shows that grabbing the top job at U.S. carriers is still an insider’s game.
Southwest anointed Bob Jordan, a 33-year company veteran, to succeed Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly next year. That means that all but one of the nine CEO appointments at U.S. airlines since 2016 have gone to insiders. And the list of winners doesn’t include any women or people from racial minorities.