Southwest Vice President And Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Krone To Retire

DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that Kevin Krone, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer will retire from the carrier, effective Feb. 15, 2016. Krone began his Southwest career 25 years ago as an intern and rose to become the Company's second-ever Chief Marketing Officer.

As Southwest's highest-level Marketing leader, Krone oversaw the Company's complete breadth of marketing strategies including advertising, digital, distribution, and mobile. He also led Southwest initiatives such as innovation, brand development, as well as management and distribution of products; including Rapid Rewards®, the award-winning frequent flyer program, and the successful Rapid Rewards® Chase/Visa program. Ryan Green, currently Managing Director of Customer Strategy & Development, is being promoted to Vice President of Marketing.

"The list of Kevin's accomplishments is vast, but most importantly, he's a great person with a humble and giving spirit, and is a dedicated family man. Kevin is leaving the Southwest brand in great shape thanks to his work. We have a strong visual identity, the Transfarency™ advertising campaign beats on, and we are experiencing strong demand for the Southwest brand," said Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer Bob Jordan. "To this day, Southwest relies on the site he developed, Southwest.com, for ticket distribution that, without Kevin's vision and leadership, would not have grown to the biggest travel website in the world. He's a visionary, a pioneer, and a thought leader in the Marketing profession."

"From day one, nearly 25 years ago, I was hooked on Southwest Airlines," Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Krone said. "The legends are true. It's the People that make Southwest great, and it's the People whom I will miss."

Krone has more than 20 years' experience in leading marketing, distribution, and technology strategies in the airline sector. Krone served on the Board of Directors for HomeAway, Inc., the world's leading online marketplace for vacation rentals prior to their acquisition by Expedia in 2015. He currently serves on the board of UpLift, Inc., an innovative startup at the intersection of marketing and payments located in Sunnyvale, Calif. 

Ryan Green has served in a number of marketing leadership positions during his 14-year tenure at Southwest. Positions include Director of Loyalty Marketing and Manager of Product Development. In these previous positions, he launched Rapid Rewards A-List the frequent flyer program's tiered status level, led the development and launch of the Southwest® gift card, helped relaunch the Rapid Rewards program in 2011, and laid the groundwork for numerous inflight experience enhancements. He previously directly managed the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card program with Chase.

Additional promotions to the Managing Director level include:

• Dave Harvey, currently Senior Director of Capacity Planning, is being promoted to Managing Director of Business Development, and will lead a newly formed business development function, under which Corporate Sales will now report.
• Adam Decaire, currently Senior Director of Schedule Planning, is being promoted to Managing Director of Network Planning.
• Both Dave and Adam will report to Andrew Watterson who takes on the expanded role of Senior Vice President of Network and Revenue.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 49,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest proudly operates a network of 97 destinations across the United States and seven additional countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season.

Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity.  That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency℠, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free®  to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:  Heart.  The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets.  With 43 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

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