Low-cost US airline JetBlue has announced the appointment of Joanna Geraghty, current president and chief operating officer, as the company’s next chief executive officer. Voted in unanimously by the board, she will succeed current CEO Robin Haynes as of February 12.
Geraghty’s appointment marks the first time a female has held the role of CEO of a major US airline, notes investment banking company TD Cowen; highlighting that despite Southwest Airlines’ selection of Colleen Barrett as president in the 1990s, all US CEOs have been male.
In a statement, Haynes explained he was stepping back to “put more focus on [his] health and wellbeing,” adding that it was “bittersweet" to be retiring. He will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to the company over the coming months. However, pointing to the “vigorous succession plan in place,” he explained: “the board and I are confident that Joanna is more than ready given her critical role in running JetBlue’s day-to-day business and positioning the airline for success.” Referencing the pandemic, he also highlighted how his successor “guided the operation through the most turbulent time in airline history… and has tirelessly worked to make JetBlue a better place for our crewmembers and customers”.
Geraghty has served with JetBlue for almost two decades thus far, initially joining the airline in 2005 after working as a partner in law firm Holland & Knight. Joining JetBlue, she then served as vice president, associate general counsel and director, litigation and regulatory affairs. A promotion saw her progress to executive vice president, chief people officer from 2010, a role she held until 2014 until moving on to work as executive vice president, customer experience, in which she was responsible for airports, customer support and inflight service. Geraghty was subsequently named president and COO.
Geraghty noted she was “so proud of what [JetBlue has] accomplished over the last 20-plus years," and that she is looking forward to building on this momentum. “I’m excited to continue working with JetBlue’s 25,000 crewmembers who are as energized as I am about challenging the status quo and bringing humanity to an industry long dominated by the legacy carriers,” she said.
Haynes added that Geraghty has been “actively engaged in [JetBlue’s] integration planning with respect to [its] proposed Spirit transaction,” a merger JetBlue are awaiting court approval on. TD Cowen commented that although the succession plan has been in place for “quite some time, the timing is the surprise, especially given the company still desires to close the Spirit Airlines merger”.