Southwest Airlines Co. appoints Rakesh Gangwal, seasoned airline industry executive and IndiGo co-founder, to its Board of Directors, effective July 7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Board of Directors of South<\/strong>we<\/strong>st Airlines Co.<\/strong><\/a> has appointed Rakesh Gangwal<\/strong> as a member of the Board, effective July 7.<\/p>\n

Gangwal has deep and extensive airline industry experience and is the co-founder of\u00a0India\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0largest airline by fleet size and passengers carried, InterGlobe Aviation<\/strong>, known as IndiGo. Before co-founding IndiGo in 2006, Gangwal served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Worldspan Technologies, a provider of technology and information services to the travel and transportation industry. Prior to his time at Worldspan, Gangwal served as President and Chief Executive Officer of US Airways Group,<\/strong> and previously as its Chief Operating Officer. Gangwal previously served in executive roles at Air France and United Airlines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to welcome Rakesh, who brings to our Board decades of valuable experience as an executive and entrepreneur at some of the world\u2019s leading airlines,\u201d<\/em> said Gary Kelly<\/strong>, Executive Chairman of the Board. \u201cHaving co-founded IndiGo and grown it into\u00a0India\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0largest airline, Rakesh knows the importance of building a business that has both a distinct culture and enduring profitability.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI have long admired Southwest Airlines and am honored to join the Board,\u201d<\/em> said Gangwal. \u201cTogether with the rest of the Board, I look forward to supporting the Company\u2019s strategic direction and building on its well-earned reputation as one of the world\u2019s most admired and respected airlines.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cRakesh\u2019s expertise in travel technology will be valuable as we continue to make investments that support our operations and strategic initiatives,\u201d<\/em> added Kelly. \u201cWe look forward to working with Rakesh and benefitting from his insights to best serve our Customers, do right by our Employees, and drive long-term Shareholder value.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In addition to having served on the board of\u00a0InterGlobe Aviation, Gangwal has also served on several other public company Boards, including US Airways Group, CarMax, Office Depot, OfficeMax<\/strong>, and PetSmart<\/strong>. Gangwal earned a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School at University of\u00a0Pennsylvania<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Gangwal\u2019s appointment continues the Board\u2019s deliberate efforts to evolve its composition to comprise professionals with a diverse range of skills and experience in areas critical to Southwest Airlines\u2019 business, including aviation, travel, finance, technology, consumer services, governmental affairs, human capital, environmental and sustainability, and logistics and operations. As part of its continued refreshment efforts, the Board has appointed a total of eight new independent and highly-qualified Directors, including Gangwal, over the last three years.<\/p>\n

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$\"Vicky$ <\/a><\/div>\n
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Vicky<\/a>\u00a0is the co-founder of\u00a0TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the\u00a0Editor-in Chief<\/strong>. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.<\/p>\n
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written\/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n