Southwest Airlines Names New CEO as Gary Kelly Moves to Executive Chairman

Southwest Airlines on Wednesday announced some major changes to its leadership team that will be effective starting next year.

The carrier announced that CEO Gary Kelly, who has served in the position since 2004, will move to executive chairman starting in early 2022. The 66-year-old Kelly has spent the last 35-years of his career at Southwest, starting as controller before moving up to CFO and VP of finance and then EVP and CFO before his promotion to CEO in July 2004.

Kelly has largely been seen as a transformative figure for Southwest and one of the most celebrated CEOs in travel. Glassdoor, the employee-generated review company, ranked Kelly 35^th in its most beloved American CEOs list in 2019.

Kelly announced the new Rapid Rewards program. Photo: Southwest. 

Kelly’s list of accomplishments with Southwest includes guiding the low-cost airline to become the largest carrier of domestic passengers in the U.S., introducing the Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX to its fleet, and launching its first international service in 2015.

Kelly was also at the helm during the acquisition of AirTran Airways in 2011 and its eventual full integration by 2014.

Kelly dressed up for the company's Halloween celebration in 2019. Photo: Southwest. 

As Kelly leaves, Southwest announced that Robert Jordan, the current EVP of corporate services for Southwest, will take over as CEO starting on Feb. 1, 2022.

Kelly, in a statement, said he was “delighted” to announce Jordan as the new CEO and, having worked with him for three decades, said Jordan is a “gifted and experienced executive and well-prepared to take on this important role.”

Jordan, who originally joined the carrier in 1988, has spent the last 33-years of his career with Southwest, spending time in a number of different roles including VP of technology, EVP and CCO, corporate controller, VP of procurement, and more.

In its release announcing the news, Southwest noted Jordan’s role in a number of big moves for the carrier as the reasons behind the appointment. Jordan, according to Southwest, had a significant role in transforming the company’s voluntary leave and early separation programs, in the acquisition of AirTran, along with the creation of the Southwest website and Rapid Reward loyalty program.

“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.”