Source: Southwest Airlines
The Board of Directors of Southwest Airlines Co. has appointed David Hess and Christopher P. Reynolds as members of the Board. David Hess has been appointed to serve on the Board effective Nov. 18, 2021. Christopher P. Reynolds has been appointed to serve on the Board effective immediately after the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”). Both Hess and Reynolds, along with the other Board nominees, will be on the ballot for the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Hess most recently served as the CEO of Arconic Corporation, based in Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to Arconic, Hess served in multiple executive leadership roles during his 38-year career at United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Reynolds currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Resources for Toyota Motor North America, based in Plano, TX, where he is responsible for the North American functions of Accounting & Finance, Human Resources, Government Affairs, Corporate Communications, Corporate Strategy, Social Innovation/Diversity & Inclusion, and Legal, among others.
“Both David and Christopher are exceptional leaders who will bring a wide-range of experiences, perspectives, and thought leadership to our Board of Directors,” said Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Airlines. “I’m looking forward to working closely with them as I prepare to transition into the Executive Chairman role in February.”
Hess has a strong background in senior executive leadership roles in the aerospace and defense sectors. He brings deep industry experience, a proven track record, a collaborative style and a strong technical background to the Board. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Hamilton College and a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Masters of Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Reynolds has extensive knowledge and expertise in both the manufacturing and legal professions and brings a vision for innovation, teamwork, and building strong corporate cultures. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with honors at Kalamazoo College and received a Law Degree from Harvard Law School. He was recently appointed Chair of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the auto industry’s trade organization. Prior to joining Toyota in 2007, Reynolds was a partner at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in New York City.