A pair of longtime leaders at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. announced they plan to retire, effective April 1. The departing managers—Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tammy Romo and Chief Administration Officer Linda Rutherford—both are much-lauded executives who’ve been with the company co-founded by Herb Kelleher for more than three decades.
The planned exits of Romo and Rutherford are the latest shifts among top executives at the airline, which has been restructuring after reaching agreements with activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Last fall former CEO and executive chairman Gary Kelley accelerated his retirement, for example, and the airline’s board of directors was revamped.
“For more than three decades, Tammy and Linda have led our organization with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” Bob Jordan, president, CEO, and vice chairman of the board of directors at Southwest, said in a statement.
“Both have managed the company through highs and lows—and Southwest Airlines is better because of their influence on many of our most significant achievements,” he added. “We are grateful for their contributions, which will shape our future for years to come.”
Multiple honors for CFO role
Romo joined Southwest in 1991 and has held many leadership roles in the last 33 years, including head of Investor Relations, controller, treasurer, and senior vice president planning. Since becoming EVP and CFO in 2012, she has been responsible for overseeing the airline’s finance activities and initiatives, as well as supply chain management, corporate strategy, fuel strategy and management, fleet strategy and management, and environmental sustainability.
Romo’s accolades include being recognized by WomenInc. as a Most Influential Corporate Director in 2023 and being named D CEO Magazine’s Outstanding CFO for a Public Company in 2022 and 2014. She was also the Dallas Business Journal’s CFO of the Year in 2014 and was named to Institutional Investor’s All-America Executive Team for Airlines.
Southwest said it will begin a search for Romo’s replacement.
Specialist in corporate communications
Rutherford came to Southwest in 1992 as a public relations coordinator after working as a news journalist.
At Southwest, she has focused largely on communications, including serving as the chief communications officer for seven years before assuming her current role as chief administration officer. In that role she oversees culture and communications, internal audit, people, talent and leadership, Total Rewards, technology, and Southwest University.
Rutherford received honors including the 2023 PRWeek Women of Distinction, the 2023 Missouri Honor Medal, and the 2022 Institute of Public Relations Lifetime Achievement Award. She also is an inductee into the halls of fame for PR News Measurement, PR News Public Relations, and the Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication.
Southwest Airlines, which has more than 73,000 employees, operates at 117 airports across 11 countries. In 2023 it carried more than 137 million customers.
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R E A D N E X T
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