Dave Harvey, who heads Southwest Business as vice president and chief sales officer for Southwest Airlines, announced on LinkedIn that he will retire from the carrier after 25 years. His last day will be May 17.
The airline moved corporate sales to a new division headed by Harvey in 2016. He led the department for eight years, including launching a business version of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program, adding the airline to the three major GDSs, launching the Business Assist portal and overhauling its meetings operation.
On LinkedIn, Harvey addressed his colleagues, saying that he started as a 22-year-old programmer/analyst in “systems” (now technology), adding, “All I really know is Southwest Airlines.” Thanking his team, he said: “The job is not finished but this team will deliver with the same care, service, and hospitality you know and love. I truly believe (and I mean this) that they will go on to bigger and better things with me out of the way. They were doing all the hard work while I got to have all the fun.”
To his customers/partners/industry friends, he said: “It has been amazing building relationships with each of you because of the doors that Southwest opened. We will still have our relationships which I’m so thankful for.”
Looking ahead, Harvey said, “The next adventure for the Harvey family will be shared soon so you won’t have to wait long.”
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