Brad Tilden will retire as CEO of Alaska Air Group on March 31, 2021 after eight years as head of the company. He will be replaced by Ben Minicucci, who currently serves as president of the company. Tilden will remain chairman of the board.
Seattle-based Alaska is the nation’s fifth-largest airline.
“We are through the initial phases of our coronavirus response, and Alaska is on a solid trajectory,” said Tilden. “Now is the time to position Alaska for future growth, and now is the time to move forward with this long-planned transition. Ben has proven himself over a long career as a person who cares passionately about our people and our culture, as a leader who builds strong teams and produces results, and as a person who will work tirelessly to push this great company forward. He has earned this role, and I look forward to supporting him as board chair.”
“I am honored and humbled by this incredible opportunity, and profoundly grateful for Brad’s leadership and partnership,” said Minicucci. “Our company is built on the strength of its people and our values, and I am so proud of who we are and all we have accomplished. The way in which our employees have navigated through challenges is truly inspiring – and the last nine months is no exception. I’m excited and optimistic about our future as we continue this journey together.”
During Minicucci’s 16-year career with Alaska, he has contributed in various roles of increasing responsibility. In 2016, he became president of Alaska Airlines and he was also named CEO of Virgin America upon Alaska’s acquisition of the airline. From 2009-2016, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was vice president of Seattle operations (2007-2009). Minicucci joined Alaska in 2004 as staff vice president of maintenance.
Perhaps he will bring some business sense and less ‘woke’.
Amen. Enough virtue signaling!! Quit telling me how to think about every leftist social issue! Just fly the damn plane!!
Why does Jerry Garcia fly on the tail of all Alaska Airlines jets?
……..because the grateful aren’t dead yet? Just waiting for more mileage deals.
Jerry Garcia’s image on the 737 jets needs to be replaced. It’s outdated and confuses people. It’s also kind of racist. How about a big icicle? Or, a thermometer which reads minus 40? A polar bear?
How about the coronavirus symbol and BLM. Signs of the times. The politically correct airline of Seattle.
Please have Mr. Tilden take a few AK Airline BLM t shirts and swag with him. May the fleas from a thousand camels infest his armpits.
Cheers, Tilden!
.
May your retirement be continually blessed with what you gave your customers: the hysterical China-flu paranoia, lousy rotten in-flight service, hyperinflated ticket prices, and of course all the thuggery your black lives matter merchandise symbolizes.
.
May you be remembered for what you did to a once-proud airline.
Have to agree with Morrigan. When I saw BLM merchandise being peddled by AK AIR it made me want to puke. Tilden is a sissy and runs in fear being politically incorrect. A true pushover.
Alaska Air has gone from being a nimble, entrepreneurial airline to one that is run out of Seattle. I live in SE Alaska and we have seen service strangled by the centralized management in Seattle. One example: A flight was held while Seattle told us how much the plane weighed. The local Alaska Air crew and staff already had that answer. Why is this important? The plane had a weather window through which to take off into the wind allowing for a greater total weight. Seattle fooled around sending back a number (that was known locally) and the wind changed. Passengers and their luggage needed to be removed from the flight creating delays that caused missed connections.
Hopefully Minicucci does not manage from fear but from trust in his crews which are the finest in the industry.
Comments are closed.