Alaska Airlines promotes CFO Shane Tackett to president in leadership shake-up after Hawaiian acquisition

Alaska Airlines has promoted Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett to president and CFO, expanding the role of a 25-year company veteran as it looks to accelerate its transformation into a global carrier and push forward the integration of Hawaiian Airlines.

The airline announced the appointment Monday, with the new title taking effect June 29. Tackett will report directly to Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines, and will serve as a member of the company's management executive committee.

In his expanded role, Tackett will continue overseeing finance, fleet operations, investor relations, supply chain, internal audit and information technology. He will also take on responsibility for the commercial division currently led by Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison. The move consolidates financial and business functions under a single leader to speed up decision-making.

Tackett has spent more than 25 years at Alaska Airlines, holding roles across financial planning, labor relations, revenue management, e-commerce and strategy. After becoming CFO in 2020, he led efforts to stabilize the airline's finances and improve profitability amid the turbulent post-pandemic environment. He was also closely involved in key decisions throughout the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

The appointment is tied to Alaska Airlines' medium- and long-term growth strategy, known as Alaska Accelerate. The carrier is focused on building a foundation for profitable growth, strengthening its global route competitiveness and broadening its business footprint through the Hawaiian Airlines integration.

"This appointment is an important milestone in executing our global growth strategy and advancing the Hawaiian Airlines integration," Minicucci said. "Shane's experience and financial leadership will help us strengthen alignment across the organization and accelerate execution of our key strategic priorities."

Tackett said he was pleased to take on the expanded role. "Over more than 25 years at Alaska Airlines, I've been part of the journey to build a stronger, more resilient airline, and we've established a clear strategy for the future," he said. "As president and CFO, I look forward to continuing to advance the Alaska Accelerate strategy, expand our global reach and deliver greater value to our guests, employees and shareholders."

In the airline industry, financial discipline and operational management have grown increasingly critical during post-merger integration. Alaska Airlines' decision to entrust the president's role to a long-tenured insider with deep institutional knowledge reflects that trend.

Alaska Airlines has been reshaping its leadership team in recent months. Last September, the carrier named Diana Birkett Rakow as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, Andy Schneider as CEO and president of Horizon Air, and Jason Berry as Horizon Air's chief operating officer. More recently, it promoted Kyle Levine to executive vice president and chief legal officer for corporate and external affairs and corporate secretary, and named Lindsey-Rae McIntyre as chief people officer.