--- schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1" accession: "0001193125-24-216328" form_type: "8-K" ticker: "LUV" cik: "0000092380" company_name: "SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO" filed_at: "2024-09-10T23:59:59+00:00" generated_at: "2026-05-31T05:48:37.803131+00:00" event_type: "leadership" sentiment: "positive" materiality_score: 0.8 calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8 confidence: "high" source: SEC EDGAR --- # Southwest announces 7 board departures, plans 4 new directors; Kelly to retire after 2025 AGM ## Summary - Gary Kelly to retire as Executive Chairman and from Board after 2025 Annual Meeting. - Six directors (Biegler, Biggins, Blunt, Cunningham, Gilligan, Soltau) to resign effective Nov 21, 2024 board meeting. - Board intends to appoint four new independent directors, considering Elliott's candidates; board size to be 13 after Nov, 12 after 2025. - Board eliminates Executive Committee, creates Finance Committee; new Lead Director and committee chairs to be named. - Board reiterates support for CEO Bob Jordan; engagement with Elliott continues for collaborative resolution. ## SEC filing metadata - accession: 0001193125-24-216328 - form_type: 8-K - ticker: LUV - cik: 0000092380 - company_name: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO - filed_at: 2024-09-10T23:59:59+00:00 - event_type: leadership - sentiment: positive - materiality_score: 0.8 - calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8 - confidence: high - sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01 - EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/d886171d8k.htm ## Machine-readable alternates - HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-216328 - JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-216328.json - Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-216328.txt ## Key facts - Executive change Gary C. Kelly departed as Executive Chairman of the Board at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: retire - Role: Executive Chairman of the Board source text: On September 9, 2024, Gary C. Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Southwest Airlines Co. (the “Company”) notified the Company and the Board that he will not stand for re-election at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) and will retire from the Board and his office of Executive Chairman of the Board, effective immediately following the 2025 Annual Meeting. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change William H. Cunningham resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change Jill A. Soltau resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change David W. Biegler resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change Roy Blunt resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change J. Veronica Biggins resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm - Executive change Thomas W. Gilligan resigned as Director at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: On September 9, 2024, David W. Biegler, J. Veronica Biggins, Roy Blunt, William H. Cunningham, Thomas W. Gilligan, and Jill A. Soltau (the “Resigning Directors”) each submitted his or her resignation from the Board, effective immediately following the Company’s regularly scheduled fourth quarter Board meeting (currently scheduled for November 21, 2024). evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000119312524216328/0001193125-24-216328-index.htm This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.