Southwest Chair Gary Kelly to step down amid activist pressure
Published On Sep 10, 2024, 4:33 AM
Gary Kelly, the Executive Chairman of Southwest Airlines, announced his retirement after the next annual meeting in response to pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management. This comes as six board members are stepping down, indicating a shift in corporate governance as the airline faces challenges in innovation and performance since the pandemic. Elliott has been advocating for a comprehensive review of Southwest's strategies and operations as part of their engagement with the board to enhance corporate governance.