Tom Nealon

President

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Leadership is... working with others to create a meaningful and compelling vision, nurturing the environment to bring it to life, and living by the Basic Principles that makes Southwest so unique.

Tom Nealon, President of Southwest Airlines, returned to Southwest Airlines in 2016 as Executive Vice President Strategy & Innovation before assuming the role of President in 2017. He previously served as a Director on the Southwest Board from 2010 to 2015, and as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer from 2002 to 2006. As President, Tom is responsible for the Commercial (including Revenue, Network, Corporate Sales and Customer Relations/Rapid Rewards), Finance, Technology, Marketing, and Internal Audit Departments.

In addition to his time at Southwest, Tom has held Executive Leadership positions at JCPenney, Inc., where he was Group Executive Vice President; and Frito-Lay, Inc., where he served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Tom received his B.S. in Business Administration from the Villanova School of Business, before continuing on to receive his MBA from the University of Dallas, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Tom also serves on the Board of Fossil Group, Inc., and the Board of Trustees of The Catholic Foundation and St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School. Tom was inducted in the CIO Hall of Fame in 2012, and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Dallas in 2018. Tom and his wife, Shannon, are parents to three children, Jessica, Tommy, and Annie.