Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, announced his resignation after his doctor’s recommendation, as he stated in his farewell letter that the challenges and pressure of the job have taken their toll on him. However, the airline is still waiting for the judge’s ruling to finalize its merger with Spirit Airlines.
Joanna Geraghty, who serves as JetBlue’s president and chief operating officer, will replace Hayes effective February 12, 2024. She will serve on the company’s Board of Directors until that date and then become a strategic advisor in the coming months.
Hayes said it has been a privilege to lead JetBlue for nine years and he is proud of all that the company has accomplished. He also mentioned that Geraghty guided the operation through a difficult time in the airline’s history, as well as planning the integration with Spirit and a solid plan to return JetBlue to profitability.
Geraghty has worked at JetBlue for 20 years serving in a variety of roles. In 2018, she was named president and chief operating officer, previously serving as executive vice president of customer experience, chief people officer, associate general counsel and director of litigation and regulatory affairs.
She has also served on the board of directors of the JetBlue Foundation. Prior to joining the airline, she was a partner at the law firm Holland & Knight.
Geraghty will become the first woman to hold the position of CEO of a major U.S. airline, as until now American, Delta, United or Southwest have always been men, as is the case in Latin America with Latam Airlines, Avianca, Aeroméxico or Copa.
Source: Arecoa.com
