DALLAS, Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginger C.
Hardage, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President, Culture &
Communications, announced her retirement from the carrier,
effective Dec. 31, 2015.
As the senior leader overseeing Culture & Communication at
Southwest—the nation's largest airline in terms of originating
domestic passengers boarded—Hardage championed the airline's
communication and outreach evolution, including Southwest's
Companywide Emergency Response effort, expanding the communication
functions to include more robust internal communications
capabilities and a social business effort, and a focused corporate
philanthropy program. For the past seven years, she also led
the airline's Culture Committee, Employee recognition and
engagement, and the Companywide celebrations. She was a
member of various executive committees and led Southwest's "Best
Place to Work" initiative.
"Ginger has been a joy to work with, and she has made countless
contributions to Southwest," said Gary
Kelly, Southwest's Chairman, President, and CEO. "She has
been an invaluable business partner, advisor, and mentor. She
brings constant, positive energy and enthusiasm to all those around
her, and that is infectious. She has built superb Teams that we are
both very proud of, and that I know will continue her special brand
of excellence."
"Working for Southwest Airlines truly has been a 'dream job'
because of the People of this great airline and the values that
drive the Company's Customer-friendly decisions," Hardage said.
"The leadership team has grown and transformed the airline
while staying true to its Purpose. The future never looked
brighter and the Culture and Communication Leaders are ready to
soar."
With Hardage's retirement, the airline's Culture team and
programs will report to Teresa
Laraba, Southwest's Senior Vice President of Customers and
Culture. Linda Rutherford, Vice
President, Chief Communications Officer, will now report to
Southwest Chairman, President, and CEO Gary
Kelly and assume responsibility for the Employee Engagement
& Travel teams in addition to her leadership of the
Communication and Outreach teams.
Hardage joined the airline in December
1990 as the Director of Public Relations and moved to
several senior leadership positions before being named the SVP of
Culture & Communications in August
2005. Prior to joining Southwest, Hardage worked
at Maxus Energy Corporation and its predecessor, Diamond Shamrock
Corporation, holding a variety of public relations positions,
including director of communications. She began her career in
Dallas with Life Insurance Company
of the Southwest in marketing communications, immediately following
graduation from Texas Tech
University.
Hardage has received numerous recognitions for her contributions
to the communications profession, including being named to PR
Week's "Top 50 Power List" for 2011 through 2014.
On Dec. 7, 2015, she will be inducted into PR
Week's Public Relations Hall of Fame during a ceremony and
awards dinner in New York City.
In 2010, Hardage was named one of the 50 Most
Powerful Women in Public Relations and one of Texas' Most Powerful and Influential Women.
In 2002, under her leadership, the Southwest Team was
named the best Corporate PR Team in the nation by PR
Week.
Hardage currently serves on the International Board of Trustees
for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, is President of the
Trinity Commons Foundation and is on the boards of the Arthur Page
Society and Trinity Trust. She previously served on advisory
boards of Novartis in Basel,
Switzerland; Business Civic Leadership Center, an affiliate
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Big Brothers and Sisters of
Metropolitan Dallas; Southwest Cares; and the Council of Public
Relations Firms. She is a past president of the Dallas Chapter of
the International Association of Business Communications; a past
member of the Southern Methodist
University Public Relations advisory board; and formerly on
the Texas Tech Rawls College of Business advisory board. Hardage is
an avid public speaker at universities and organizations ranging
from Google to Princeton University on
topics related to "Building a Brand from the Inside Out."
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)
continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 48,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 97 destinations
across the United States and seven
additional countries.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to access streaming music provided by Apple
Music or to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as
well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our
valued Partners. Southwest created
Transfarency℠, a philosophy which treats Customers
honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low.
*Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly
free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of
luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free
checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and
there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In
2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:
Heart. The new aircraft livery, airport experience,
and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect
Customers with what's important in their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com. Book Southwest Airlines' low fares
online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines