ALK Down 10.40% On Friday

[Ex737Driver]

I know there was a downgrade of six airline stocks but why the double-digit drop in Alaska?

 

[Old School 737]

Could be this????

Alaska Air Group announces senior management changes

Kevin Finan to retire at end of 2007


April 27, 2007

The Alaska Air Group (AAG) board of directors today announced changes to Alaska Airlines’ senior management structure. Three senior executives have been elected to new divisional leadership roles, and the company announced the upcoming retirement of Kevin Finan, executive vice president of operations.

The realignment will foster greater collaboration between divisions, accelerate operational improvements, unify planning efforts, and further Alaska’s ongoing transformation.

Gregg Saretsky, 47, formerly executive vice president of marketing and planning, has been elected executive vice president of flight and marketing. In this position, he will oversee the airline’s Flight Operations, Inflight Services, Sales, Customer Experience and Brand Marketing organizations.

Glenn Johnson, 48, was promoted to executive vice president of airport services and maintenance and engineering, adding oversight of the Maintenance and Engineering Division. He was previously Alaska’s senior vice president of customer service-airports.

Brad Tilden, 46, AAG’s chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance, will assume responsibility for the Planning, Revenue Management and Corporate Real Estate departments, in addition to Finance, with an expanded title of executive vice president of finance and planning.

Until his retirement at the end of 2007, Finan, 60, will serve as executive vice president of strategic projects and interim vice president of flight operations. He formerly oversaw Flight Operations, Customer Service-Airports, Maintenance and Engineering, and Corporate Real Estate.

“Kevin’s desire to retire at the end of the year presented an opportunity to revisit our organizational makeup on the ground and in the air, and explore options to enable better cross-team solutions for serving our customers,” AAG Chairman and CEO Bill Ayer said.

“This restructuring aligns Alaska’s maintenance, ground support and airport customer service functions under one leader, promoting increased teamwork and more streamlined operations,” Ayer said. “Unifying our inflight services, flight operations and customer experience areas is designed to achieve similar cross-division collaboration and focus.

“Likewise, shifting planning, revenue management and corporate real estate under Brad creates further alignment with our overall strategic planning efforts,” Ayer said.

As part of the realignment, Captain Ben Forrest, previously vice president of flight operations, will return to his line pilot and check airman role. Saretsky will lead the search for a new vice president of flight operations.

“Ben has made significant contributions this past year, including overseeing the operational transition from the 737-200 to the 737-400 Combi and Freighter, and expanding the use of RNP flight guidance technology,” Saretsky said. “His passion for improving the operation and dedication to the company will continue to benefit Flight Operations as he returns to line flying.”

Fred Mohr, who now reports to Johnson, will continue to lead Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering Division. Don Garvett, vice president of planning and revenue management, and Ed White, vice president of corporate real estate, also will continue in their current roles, now reporting to Tilden.

The realignment is effective immediately, and further communications are planned with the affected work groups. Horizon Air is not impacted by any of the changes.

 

[ferlo]

Alaska Air Group announces senior management changes

Kevin Finan to retire at end of 2007


April 27, 2007

The Alaska Air Group (AAG) board of directors today announced changes to Alaska Airlines’ senior management structure. Three senior executives have been elected to new divisional leadership roles, and the company announced the upcoming retirement of Kevin Finan, executive vice president of operations.

The realignment will foster greater collaboration between divisions, accelerate operational improvements, unify planning efforts, and further Alaska’s ongoing transformation.

Gregg Saretsky, 47, formerly executive vice president of marketing and planning, has been elected executive vice president of flight and marketing. In this position, he will oversee the airline’s Flight Operations, Inflight Services, Sales, Customer Experience and Brand Marketing organizations.

Glenn Johnson, 48, was promoted to executive vice president of airport services and maintenance and engineering, adding oversight of the Maintenance and Engineering Division. He was previously Alaska’s senior vice president of customer service-airports.

Brad Tilden, 46, AAG’s chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance, will assume responsibility for the Planning, Revenue Management and Corporate Real Estate departments, in addition to Finance, with an expanded title of executive vice president of finance and planning.

Until his retirement at the end of 2007, Finan, 60, will serve as executive vice president of strategic projects and interim vice president of flight operations. He formerly oversaw Flight Operations, Customer Service-Airports, Maintenance and Engineering, and Corporate Real Estate.

“Kevin’s desire to retire at the end of the year presented an opportunity to revisit our organizational makeup on the ground and in the air, and explore options to enable better cross-team solutions for serving our customers,” AAG Chairman and CEO Bill Ayer said.

“This restructuring aligns Alaska’s maintenance, ground support and airport customer service functions under one leader, promoting increased teamwork and more streamlined operations,” Ayer said. “Unifying our inflight services, flight operations and customer experience areas is designed to achieve similar cross-division collaboration and focus.

“Likewise, shifting planning, revenue management and corporate real estate under Brad creates further alignment with our overall strategic planning efforts,” Ayer said.

As part of the realignment, Captain Ben Forrest, previously vice president of flight operations, will return to his line pilot and check airman role. Saretsky will lead the search for a new vice president of flight operations.

“Ben has made significant contributions this past year, including overseeing the operational transition from the 737-200 to the 737-400 Combi and Freighter, and expanding the use of RNP flight guidance technology,” Saretsky said. “His passion for improving the operation and dedication to the company will continue to benefit Flight Operations as he returns to line flying.”

Fred Mohr, who now reports to Johnson, will continue to lead Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering Division. Don Garvett, vice president of planning and revenue management, and Ed White, vice president of corporate real estate, also will continue in their current roles, now reporting to Tilden.

The realignment is effective immediately, and further communications are planned with the affected work groups. Horizon Air is not impacted by any of the changes.

I don't think so...May 1st is fast approaching. I'd pull my money too,(that is if I owned a dime of this sh*t company).

 

[mach none]

It will be at 15 to 20 by the end of the summer.

 

[CitationLover]

It will be at 15 to 20 by the end of the summer.

ready for AMR to buy. welcome to the family! ask TWA folks how the integration will go.

 

[Old School 737]

No letter from Ben yet? I wonder if he was fired like Rob?

 

[ferlo]

No letter from Ben yet? I wonder if he was fired like Rob?

What's he going to say...

"Sorry about that whole...Negotiating against you thing, it's really just a big misunderstanding. I wasn't really trying to F- you guys as hard as I can, it's just a big joke. It's great to be back on reserve with my real buddies.."

Ben can go F himself. Rob is a great guy that tried to do some good for the pilots. Something managment here finds intolerable.

 

[Old School 737]

I figured he would put out some crap about how great it was/ how great the company is/ how great the pilots are etc,etc,etc..................

Can he hold Capt now that he is back on the line? Or is it back to F.O.?

I was sorry that Rob was not given a chance to improve this place as well.

 

[ferlo]

I'm pretty sure he's now a really junior reserve capt. I'm sure he'll be welcomed back with open arms. Especially from the guys who've lost their homes.

 

[mach none]

He was on the BPL in LA as a Captain.

 

[mach none]

ready for AMR to buy. welcome to the family! ask TWA folks how the integration will go.

That is my only fear.

 

[Mea25000]

I am thinking it will be Delta sometime in early September... better start wearing our hats I hear they are pretty militant about them.

 

[QXpeon]

Hey CAL, NWA, AMR!!!!!

Want some west coast bases???

Come on over and buy out the air group!!!!!

 

[Singlecoil]

I personally think a buyout is the best thing that can happen for Alaska pilots at this point. Our current management is completely inept. They will twiddle their thumbs as the company disintigrates. I don't care what list I'm stapled to, it's better than a Chapter 7 liquidation and having to interview and do all of that to get another job.

This company will be studied not for what is has accomplished, but for how it frittered away opportunity after opportunity because anyone with an original idea isn't allowed a seat at the trough.

The Peter Principle? More like the Kennedy/Kelly Principle.

This company is done for.

 

[ferlo]

This company is done for.

AMF!!!!

I turned down better jobs for this one. I'll get another one just as easily. You would too.

 

[Hpilot]

I've noticed the moral has been especially low at Alaska. While jumping in the cockpit I mentioned to the captain I still had my stuff in at Alaska. Both he and the FO turned around and the response was something akin to "are you f*#!ing stupid?" I hope things get better, Alaska's always been my favorite airline.

 

[ferlo]

The plummet continues...down another 6.3% @2pm EST.

 

[mach none]

Not long now before a hostile takeover and bidding war is announced.

 

[ferlo]

Not long now before a hostile takeover and bidding war is announced.

I wouldn't start losing any sleep over this yet.

 

[n25na]

I wouldn't start losing any sleep over this yet.

let me know when. for now i sleep

 

[mach none]

I'm not...wake me when its over.

 

[lumax]

No worries mach, you'll now when it's over! If we get bought by AMR, the screw job will be so bad the pain will wake you!