Northwest Airlines Announces Management Team Changes
Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA) today detailed changes in its executive management team that strengthen the company’s focus on its employees and customers, realigns the organizational structure to reflect changes in its business, and enhances executive development to ensure that the company continues to retain the best management team in the airline industry.
“With the completion of our restructuring, we have committed the airline to an increased focus on our employees and our customers. These management changes will better position us to realize these goals and capitalize on the skills and expertise of our leadership team,” said Doug Steenland, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We have had the strongest management team in the business for years and with these changes I am confident that this team is capable of working collaboratively with the 31,000 men and women of Northwest Airlines to make Northwest the best airline in the industry from both an employee and customer relations perspective,” Steenland added.
The changes are effective Oct. 1.
Details of today’s announcement are outlined below:
OPERATIONS
Safety
Ken Hylander, Vice President Safety, Engineering and Chief Safety Officer, has been promoted to Senior Vice President Safety, Engineering and Chief Safety Officer. He will continue to report jointly to Steenland and Andy Roberts, Executive Vice President Operations. In addition to his safety and engineering responsibilities, Ken has been assigned to lead the introduction of the Boeing 787 aircraft into the Northwest fleet, serves as the company’s representative on the Air Transport Association’s Strategic Advisory Committee, and is Northwest’s chief liaison to the Federal Aviation Administration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from California State University. “Ken is an industry leader in safety processes and practices,” commented Steenland. “We’re fortunate to have his safety, engineering and project management expertise at the airline.”
Flight Operations
Tim Rainey, Senior Vice President Flight Operations and Inflight Services, has been named Senior Vice President Flight Operations and System Operations Control (SOC) reporting to Steenland. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.
Bill Lentsch, Vice President Customer Service for Northwest’s Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) hub, has been named Vice President Flight Operations and SOC Administration. Lentsch brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. “I’m looking forward to having one of Northwest’s finest leaders and a strong employee advocate, join the Flight Operations management team,” said Rainey. With a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and an MBA from the University of Minnesota, Lentsch spent 14 years in Northwest’s Technical Operations department before accepting an assignment as Chief Operating Officer at Champion Air from 2003 to 2005. Upon returning to Northwest, he joined Airport Operations as Vice President Station Operations before assuming his current role managing MSP’s airport operations.
Bob Muhs, Managing Director System Operations Control, has been promoted to the position of Vice President SOC. Bob has held positions of increasing responsibility in Northwest’s SOC over the last 25 years after starting in Northwest’s Airport Operations department in 1977. Bob holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota. “Bob is one of the strongest operating executives in the airline industry and we’re pleased to have him join Northwest’s senior leadership team,” stated Rainey.
Inflight Services
Julie Showers, Vice President Labor Relations, has been promoted to Senior Vice President Inflight Services. In recognition of the critically important role our Flight Attendants play in delivering customer service, the Inflight Services position has been elevated to Senior Vice President and will report directly to Andy Roberts. “Julie has developed strong working relationships with our Flight Attendants and Flight Attendant union leadership throughout her career. Her management skills make her well suited to take on this critical role leading Northwest’s second largest employee group of nearly 8,000 Flight Attendants,” said Roberts. Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University and earned her Law Degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Suzanne Boda, Vice President Inflight Services, has elected to resign from Northwest effective Oct. 1. Boda has served in a variety of operations roles during her 24-year career at Northwest. “Suzanne has been an invaluable member of the Northwest leadership team and will be greatly missed,” said Roberts. “She has led our Inflight organization during our restructuring and has done so with care and concern for our Flight Attendants and passengers alike.” On her upcoming departure, Boda stated, “my 24 years at Northwest have been extraordinary and I wish all of my colleagues nothing but success in the years ahead as I look forward to beginning a new chapter in my life.”
Airport Customer Service
Todd C. Anderson, Managing Director Customer Service – Gateways, Europe & Memphis, has been promoted to Vice President Customer Service – MSP, a position that reports to Crystal Knotek, Senior Vice President Customer Service & Airport Operations. Todd joined Northwest in 1979 and has held a variety of executive level Customer Service positions internationally and in the United States. He previously managed airport operations in Seattle and Narita International Airport in Tokyo before assuming the role of Managing Director Customer Service for Northwest’s Asia operations. Todd returned to the U.S. and assumed his current responsibilities in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. “Todd has done a great job leading several Employee Involvement Teams and excels at managing complex operations while maintaining outstanding service to our customers. I’m pleased that he will continue those leadership efforts at MSP,” said Knotek.
Regional Airline Operations
Tim Campbell, Vice President Flight Operations and System Operations Control Administration, has been named Vice President Regional Airline Operations reporting jointly to Neal Cohen, Executive Vice President Strategy, International, and CEO Regional Airlines, and Andy Roberts. In his new role, Campbell will have responsibility for coordinating all aspects of Northwest’s operations interface with its regional carriers including Compass Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines. “Given his broad airline operations background, Tim is well positioned to fill this role which is particularly important as Compass and Mesaba take delivery of 72 new generation regional jets over the next two years,” said Cohen. Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Finance and International Business from Seattle University.
INTERNATIONAL, CARGO AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
International
Laura Liu, Vice President International Marketing & Sales, has been promoted to Senior Vice President International reporting to Cohen. Liu will have worldwide responsibility for Northwest’s international passenger business. She joined Northwest in 1992 and has spent her entire 16 year Northwest career in the International Division. “We’re fortunate to have a seasoned executive to lead our international efforts during this period of growth,” said Cohen. “Laura’s deep international experience positions us well to capitalize on the numerous opportunities that our new international fleet of Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 aircraft will present us.” Liu holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Engineering, in addition to an MBA from Cornell University.
Fred Deschamps, Vice President Pacific Operations & Administration, has been named Vice President International Marketing & Sales reporting to Liu. Deschamps spent the first eight years of his Northwest career in International Revenue Management and recently returned from an extended expatriate assignment in Tokyo having served in leadership roles supporting Northwest’s Pacific operations for the past seven years. Deschamps holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College. “Fred’s extensive international experience will serve him well in his new assignment and I look forward to continuing to work together with Fred as he takes on leadership of our international sales and marketing activities,” said Liu.
Cargo
Tom Bach, Vice President Network Planning & Revenue Management, has been promoted to President NWA Cargo reporting to Cohen. Bach, a 24 year Northwest veteran, has held positions in Domestic Pricing, Planning, and Yield Management. “Tom is an extraordinarily capable executive and is joining Cargo at a pivotal time for the business,” stated Cohen. “He will be tasked with leading a number of critical cargo business initiatives and we’re pleased to have him join the Cargo leadership team.” Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Administration from the University of North Dakota and a master’s degree in Finance & Marketing from Purdue University.
Strategic Planning
Jim Friedel, President NWA Cargo, has been named to the newly created position of Senior Vice President Strategic Planning, reporting jointly to Cohen and Dave Davis, Chief Financial Officer. Jim will have responsibility for managing a number of critical strategic projects. During his 16-year career, Friedel has held senior level positions in Marketing, Finance, Reservations, International and Cargo. “Jim’s consulting expertise and broad Northwest experience makes him ideally suited to lead these efforts,” said Cohen. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.
Dan McDonald, Vice President Fleet Planning, has been named Vice President Strategy and Fleet Planning reporting to Friedel. In his expanded role, Dan will continue to have responsibility for leading Northwest’s fleet planning group and will also get involved in a variety of non-fleet related strategic projects. McDonald holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. “Dan did a tremendous job of on our fleet restructuring efforts and will be a tremendous resource on future strategic initiatives,” commented Friedel.
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Domestic Marketing
Jim Cron, Vice President Passenger Marketing and Sales & Chief Executive Officer of MLT Vacations, has been promoted to Senior Vice President Revenue Management, Planning and Loyalty Marketing and CEO MLT, reporting to Tim Griffin, Executive Vice President Marketing & Distribution. Jim has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. John’s University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of St. Thomas. “We’re fortunate to have Jim return to Domestic Planning and Revenue Management and bring his extensive Loyalty and Tour Marketing experience,” said Griffin.
Dennis Newman, Managing Director North America Planning, has been promoted to Vice President Domestic Planning and Scheduling reporting to Cron. Newman joined Northwest in 1992 and has worked in worked in Domestic and Pacific Area Marketing, Financial Planning & Analysis, and most recently North America Planning. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Princeton and an MBA from Dartmouth. In commenting on Newman’s appointment, Cron said “Dennis brings an extensive knowledge of our route structure and the domestic marketplace to the task of guiding our network development.”
Steve Sear, Vice President Sales, will now report directly to Griffin. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOR RELATIONS
Labor Relations
Bob Brodin, current Labor Consultant and former Senior Vice President Labor Relations, has been named Senior Vice President Labor Relations reporting jointly to Steenland and Mike Becker, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations. “We’re pleased that Bob will be rejoining the Northwest Team,” said Becker. “Northwest is fortunate to have a seasoned leader heading up our labor relations efforts during this important period of rebuilding trust and continuing our collaboration with union leadership.” Brodin holds a bachelor’s degree from Bethel University and received his Law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.
Northwest Airlines is one of the world’s largest airlines with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world’s most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 1,000 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.