Dallas – October 12, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has appointed two sitting chief executives, Jason Liberty of Royal Caribbean Group and Varun Krishna of Rocket Companies, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
The Board said it chose directors with public company leadership experience and expertise in technology, digital innovation, commercial strategy and financial leadership. Southwest is executing its strategic priorities and aims to drive shareholder value.
Liberty brings two decades of cruise industry finance and operations experience
Liberty is Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, a post he has held since 2025. He became CEO in 2022 and served as Chief Financial Officer for nine years before that. In more than two decades at the company, he has held senior roles spanning finance, strategy, technology, legal, shared services and business operations. He also chairs the Cruise Lines International Association, the leading trade organization for the global cruise industry.
Krishna adds fintech and digital product expertise from Rocket, Intuit and PayPal
Krishna is CEO of Rocket Companies, a financial technology platform that includes Rocket Mortgage, Redfin and other consumer finance offerings. He guides business strategy and oversees how Rocket's brands and products work together as an integrated platform. Before Rocket, he held senior executive roles at Intuit, where he oversaw the end-to-end suite of consumer and tax products and services. Earlier, he held leadership positions at PayPal, Groupon and Microsoft.
Southwest leadership ties the appointments to customer experience and performance goals
Bob Jordan, Southwest's President, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, said Liberty contributes travel industry, operational and financial leadership, while Krishna contributes expertise in digital products, innovation and customer engagement. Jordan said the pair will strengthen the Board as Southwest works on enhancing the customer experience, improving performance and executing its strategic priorities.
Doug Brooks, independent Chair of the Board, said the two directors have led complex, customer-focused companies through periods of growth, innovation and transformation. Krishna described himself as a loyal Southwest customer.
Southwest's forward-looking statements cite risks including dependence on Boeing for aircraft deliveries and MAX 7 certification, reliance on the Federal Aviation Administration for that certification, labor matters, fuel price volatility and the cost and effects of actions by activist shareholders.