Southwest Airlines appoints new member to Board of Directors

Southwest Airlines appoints new member to Board of Directors

2010-11-19 04:13:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

DALLAS, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) -- Southwest Airlines on Thursday appointed Tom Nealon as the newest member to the Board of Directors effective on December 1.

Nealon is currently the Group Executive Vice President of J.C. Penney Company. At his current post, Nealon’s responsibilities include information Technology, Corporate Strategy and Planning, and Digital Ventures. He joined J.C. Penney in 2006.

"We couldn't be more excited to have Tom join the excellent talent that already resides on the Southwest Board of Directors," said Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO for Southwest Airlines. “Tom's extensive knowledge in technology and his leadership skills will serve Southwest and its People well."

Nealon will initially serve for a term lasting until Southwest’s next Annual Meting of Shareholders in May 2011. The other members of Southwest Airlines Board of Directors are: David Biegler, Douglas Brooks, William Cunningham, John Denison, Travis Johnson, Gary Kelly, Nancy Loeffler, John Montford and Daniel Villanueva.

Prior to joining J.C. Penney, Nealon was a partner with the Feld Group, where he served in a consultant capacity as Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Southwest. He has also worked as CEO for Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo.

Nealon is the recipient of the 2010 MIT Sloan School of Business Award for Innovation Leadership and was recognized by Information Week as a "Premiere 100 CIO" in 2006 and 2010.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Dallas.

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