Robert E. Jordan took the helm as the CEO of Southwest Airlines in February 2022, bringing over 30 years of experience with the company after joining as a programmer in 1988. Before becoming CEO, he held various executive roles, including Executive Vice President of Corporate Services and Chief Commercial Officer. His education includes a Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin, which laid the groundwork for his career in operations. His strategic leadership style is evident as he navigates the airline through the post-COVID recovery, focusing on financial performance and operational excellence. In 2023, Jordan's annual compensation totaled nearly $9.3 million, reflecting Southwest's aim to align executive pay with performance metrics. His insider trading history shows a significant fluctuation in transactions, peaking with over $12 million in trades in early 2024. Under his guidance, Southwest aims to maintain its reputation for customer service while pursuing innovative approaches to enhance its operational strategies.

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Robert E. Jordan

CEO of Southwest Airlines

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

February 1, 1960 - 65 years ago

CEO of Southwest Airlines for

3 years 2 months (Feb 2022 - Present)

Previous Experience

Executive Vice President & Incoming Chief Executive Officer from June 2021 to February 2022; Executive Vice President Corporate Services from July 2017 to June 2021; Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer from September 2011 to July 2017; Executive Vice President Strategy & Planning from May 2008 to September 2011; Senior Vice President Enterprise Spend Management from August 2004 to September 2006; Vice President Technology from 2002 to 2004; Vice President Purchasing from 2001 to 2002; Controller from 1997 to 2001; Director Revenue Accounting from 1994 to 1997; Manager Sales Accounting from 1990 to 1994; Joined the Company in 1988 as a programmer.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Robert E. Jordan

Ed Bastian

CEO of Delta Air Lines

2023 Compensation

Stock

$19.03M

Salary

$950.00K

Bonus

$9.60M

Other

$371.18K

Total Holdings

$31.31M

Robin Hayes

CEO of JetBlue Airways

2023 Compensation

Stock

$655.73K

Salary

$725.00K

Bonus

$3.06M

Other

$16.50K

Total Holdings

$5.37M

J. Scott Kirby

CEO of United Airlines Holdings

2023 Compensation

Stock

$10.71M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$155.74K

Total Holdings

$53.84M

Russell A. "Chip" Childs

CEO of SkyWest

2023 Compensation

Stock

$444.95K

Salary

$546.88K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$467.21K

Total Holdings

$48.27M

Brad Tilden

CEO of Alaska Air Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$637.69K

Bonus

$1.22M

Other

$386.45K

Total Holdings

$10.95M

Holdings

See how much did Robert E. Jordan make over time.

Robert E. Jordan's insider trading activity shows how his wealth fluctuated with the airline's stock. Notably, he traded shares worth over $9.5 million monthly during mid-2021 when Southwest was rebounding strongly from the COVID slump. His largest trades often topped $8 million, reflecting confidence in the company's growth prospects. By 2024, monthly transactions peaked at $12 million, indicating a significant uptick possibly driven by a renewed focus on expanding operations and profitability. Despite earlier fluctuations, his total trading values suggest a steady investment in the airline he’s led for over a decade, emphasizing a long-term commitment to Southwest's vision and success.

Total Stock Sold

$15.36M

LUV

$15.36M

500,762 LUV shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Robert E. Jordan didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra LUV500,762 shares worth $17.18M.
This is 11.84% and $1.82M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

LUV

21,636 shares

LUV

Recent Charitable Transactions

LUV

1,700 shares

LUV

Dec 18, 2017

Charity

LUV

5,950 shares

LUV

May 31, 2016

Charity

LUV

1,200 shares

LUV

Oct 28, 2015

Charity

LUV

2,400 shares

LUV

Oct 23, 2015

Charity

LUV

5,000 shares

LUV

May 29, 2014

Charity

LUV

5,386 shares

LUV

Dec 23, 2013

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Robert E. Jordan.

LUV

20,069 shares

LUV

Feb 10, 2025

Received

LUV

131,131 shares

LUV

Feb 4, 2025

Received

LUV

142,957 shares

LUV

Jan 31, 2024

Received

LUV

57,606 shares

LUV

Feb 1, 2023

Received

LUV

40,139 shares

LUV

Feb 1, 2022

Received

LUV

$1.73M

LUV at $60.00/share

Mar 8, 2021

Sale

LUV

56,831 shares

LUV

Feb 3, 2021

Received

LUV

45,089 shares

LUV

Jan 29, 2020

Received

LUV

41,342 shares

LUV

Jan 30, 2019

Received

LUV

31,614 shares

LUV

Jan 31, 2018

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Robert E. Jordan make over time.

In 2023, Robert E. Jordan's compensation package was about $9.3 million, showcasing a mix of salary, cash incentives, and contributions to retirement plans. His base salary was $700,000, and there was no bonus awarded this year, highlighting a shift towards cash compensation over stock options. This reflects a compensation strategy focused on aligning executive pay with performance metrics without tying too much of his wealth to stock performance. His 2022 compensation included both salary and an incentive based on company performance typical in high-stakes environments like airlines. This model aims to drive company performance and prioritize shareholder interests, particularly during challenging times.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$1.11M

Salary

$700.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay, aligning executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2023 as per the compensation structure.

Other

$405.79K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to 401(k), profit sharing, and other perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2023 as the focus was on cash compensation and performance-based awards.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics included EBITDA targets and operational excellence measures, with a payout based on achieving 57.5% of target.

Other Southwest Airlines CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Southwest Airlines

Gary C. Kelly

CEO of Southwest Airlines

July 2004 - Invalid Date