Elliott Management Southwest Seeks Better Governance at Southwest Airlines

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Aerial city view of Seattle overlooking buildings, Elliott Bay, under blue sky with clouds.
Credit: pexels.com, Aerial city view of Seattle overlooking buildings, Elliott Bay, under blue sky with clouds.

Elliott Management Southwest is pushing for better governance at Southwest Airlines.

Elliott Management, a hedge fund led by billionaire Paul Singer, owns a significant stake in Southwest Airlines.

Elliott Management's stake in Southwest Airlines gives them substantial influence over the company's direction.

Elliott Management has been critical of Southwest Airlines' governance structure, citing a lack of accountability and transparency.

The hedge fund is seeking changes to the airline's board of directors and executive leadership to improve its overall performance.

Elliott Management's Involvement

Elliott Management is a significant player in the world of corporate governance, and their involvement in Southwest Airlines is a prime example of this. They have a combined economic exposure of approximately 11% in Southwest Airlines.

Elliott Management has made it clear that they are not satisfied with the current state of Southwest's governance and are pushing for change. They have proposed electing an independent, qualified slate of director nominees to hold executive leadership accountable and improve company results.

Credit: youtube.com, Elliott Management plans to launch a proxy fight against Southwest Airlines

The investment firm has proposed eight new director candidates for Southwest Airlines' Board, each with impressive backgrounds and experience in the industry. These candidates include Michael Cawley, the former deputy CEO, COO and CFO of Ryanair, and David Cush, the former CEO of Virgin America.

Elliott Management has also called on Southwest to confirm the December 10, 2024 meeting date and announce a reasonable record date without defensive maneuvers. This is a crucial step in ensuring that shareholders have a say in the company's future.

Here are the eight new director candidates proposed by Elliott Management:

  • Michael Cawley, former deputy CEO, COO and CFO of Ryanair
  • David Cush, former CEO of Virgin America
  • Sarah Feinberg, former senior official at the Department of Transportation and former head of the Federal Railroad Administration
  • Hon. Josh Gotbaum, former Chapter 11 trustee of Hawaiian Airlines
  • Dave Grissen, former Group President of Marriott International
  • Robert Milton, former CEO of Air Canada and ACE Aviation Holdings and former Chairman of United Airlines
  • Gregg Saretsky, former CEO of WestJet
  • Patty Watson, current EVP and Chief Information & Technology Officer at NCR Atleos

Elliott Management's proposal to elect these new directors and remove eight current Southwest directors is a significant move that could shape the company's future. The investment firm holds a combined economic exposure of approximately 11% in Southwest Airlines.

Carlos Bartoletti

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Carlos Bartoletti is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in exploring the intricacies of modern work life. With a strong background in research and analysis, Carlos crafts informative and engaging content that resonates with readers. His writing expertise spans a range of topics, with a particular focus on professional development and industry trends.

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