Delta Air Lines Reshuffles Leadership Team, Names New President

Delta Air Lines is ringing in a new chapter of executive leadership following the retirement of John Laughter, a thirty-year veteran who rose from an aircraft liaison engineer to serve as Executive Vice President, Chief of Operations and President of Delta TechOps, who will leave Delta at the end of April.

The most prominent among a slate of moves is the promotion of Peter Carter to President. Carter, who has spent a decade at Delta focusing on legal and external affairs, will now take on a much broader role. His new position encompasses enterprise strategy, international portfolios, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

Delta is also swapping its operational and financial leadership. Dan Janki, the current Chief Financial Officer, will transition into the role of Chief Operating Officer. Janki will now oversee everything from flight operations and airport customer service to technical operations, and safety.

Erik Snell will take Janki’s place as CFO. Snell, another long-term Delta veteran, moves into the CFO role from his previous position as Chief Customer Experience Officer.

The airline is also making moves in its marketing department. Alicia Tillman, the current Chief Marketing Officer, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Ranjan Goswami has been named Chief Marketing and Product Officer. Goswami’s appointment explicitly ties the airline’s “product”—which includes everything from onboard amenities to digital tools—directly to its brand marketing, ensuring a more cohesive message to the traveling public and the advisors who sell the Delta experience.

Rounding out the changes, Alain Bellemare will add the role of Chairman of Delta TechOps to his current responsibilities as President of International. Together, Carter, Janki, Snell, and Goswami will now report directly to CEO Ed Bastian, creating a tighter, more centralized circle of leadership.