Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
8-K - 8-K ITEM 5.02 01/22/2018 - ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC. | a8-kitem50201222018.htm |
Jan. 22, 2018
Contact:
Media Relations
(206) 304-0008
newsroom@alaskaair.com
Retired Boeing Executive Ray Conner Brings 40 years of Global Experience
to Alaska Air Group Board
SEATTLE —Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon
Air, announced the appointment of Ray Conner, retired president and chief executive officer of
Boeing Commercial Airplanes and former vice chairman of The Boeing Company, to the company's
board of directors.
Conner brings over 40 years of global leadership experience to the Seattle-based airline’s board,
having served as Boeing’s most senior executive in the Pacific Northwest until his retirement in
2017. His appointment affirms Alaska Airlines’ commitment to its Pacific Northwest roots as well as
its focus on safety, growing a sustainable fleet and expanding its global reach with loyalty partners
that connect the West Coast to worldwide hubs. Conner will serve on the Board’s Safety Committee.
“Ray grew up next to Sea-Tac Airport and attended Highline High School. Over his long and
successful career, he has earned a reputation for doing the right thing, both for customers and for
employees. Many leaders aspire to this worthy goal, but Ray has actually done it,” said Brad Tilden,
chairman and chief executive officer of Alaska Air Group. “His counsel will be extremely valuable as
we improve and grow our company in the years ahead.”
Conner started working on the 727 line as a mechanic in 1977, helping to pay his way through
college. From there, he rose through the ranks initially becoming Boeing Commercial Airplane’s
sales director for Thailand followed by various other management positions including: vice president
of the Propulsion Systems Division, vice president and general manager of the 747 program, vice
president of Asia/Pacific Sales for Commercial Airplanes, vice president of Sales for the Americas
and vice president and general manager of Supply Chain Management.
Most recently, as president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Conner was
responsible for delivering on a record backlog and overseeing the growth of its airplane programs
and services.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and a master’s from the University
of Puget Sound. Conner also serves on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of
Bellevue and Adient, a global supplier of seats to the automotive and aerospace industry.
Alaska Air Group has been recognized for its diversity, with women holding 40 percent of the seats
on its Board of Directors. Directors serve one-year terms and the company's bylaws require annual
elections of all board members.
Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million guests a year
to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to
Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and
redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in
Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America” in the J.D. Power North
America Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to 2017. Learn more about Alaska’s
award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin
America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
# # #