NEW YORK, March 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces a new leadership structure for the low-fare airline's Supply Chain, Finance and Information Technology Departments, designed to keep JetBlue's low-cost advantage while investing in the right assets to help scale JetBlue's culture and service as the airline grows.
"JetBlue continues to organize around our central reason for being, which is to 'bring humanity back to air travel,'" said JetBlue CEO David Neeleman. "It's important to scale our business functions as our airline grows, and I'm happy to promote talent from within our organization for these vital roles."
Tom Anderson, who has been Senior Vice President of Technical Operations, Aircraft Programs and LiveTV, is now JetBlue's Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and LiveTV, and will report to CFO John Owen. In this new role, Mr. Anderson and his team will be responsible for major purchasing programs and supply chain. Mr. Anderson also continues to hold responsibility for JetBlue's signature in-flight entertainment product, powered by LiveTV. He joined JetBlue in 1999 as Director, Aircraft Programs, and was promoted to Vice President, Technical Operations and Aircraft Programs in 2001. Prior to JetBlue, Mr. Anderson held a variety of positions on increasing responsibility with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group.
Holly Nelson has been named Senior Vice President and Controller, and will continue to report to CFO John Owen. Ms. Nelson and her team are responsible for compiling and reporting JetBlue's financial performance, and are also instrumental in identifying areas where JetBlue can keep costs low in order to maintain the airline's competitive advantage. Ms. Nelson joined JetBlue in 2001 as Vice President and Controller, following 15 years with Northwest Airlines in senior financial management positions and prior to that was a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick.
Todd Thompson has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and will continue to report to John Owen. Mr. Thompson is responsible for companywide information technology projects and operations, spanning all systems, networks, servers, datacenters, desktops, and devices. Prior to joining JetBlue in December, 2003, Mr. Thompson led Intermountain West consulting practices for both SBI.Razorfish and Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, and has more than 20 years of IT experience with expertise in technology, business processes and project/program management.
Tim Hickey has been appointed Vice President, IT Operations, responsible for effective planning and operation of networks, servers, datacenters, desktops, and devices. Mr. Hickey joined JetBlue in October of 2002 as Director, IT, and will continue to report to Mr. Thompson. Prior to joining JetBlue, he held senior IT leadership positions at Aetna, Nortel and the Seagram companies. He has 33 years experience in IT with a particular focus on IT Operations.
In the six years since its launch, JetBlue Airways has focused on creating a new airline category -- an airline that offers value, service and style. Based out of New York City, the low-cost carrier currently serves 34 destinations with more than 410 flights daily. Onboard JetBlue, customers enjoy roomy leather seats and 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming (a), the most live TV available on any airline. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight(tm) is also available. JetBlue offers customers generous brand name snacks and beverages, including freshly brewed Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and delicious wines selected by the airline's Low Fare Sommelier, Josh Wesson from Best Cellars. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
(a) DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights to/from Bermuda, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic; however, where applicable FOX InFlight is offered complimentary on these routes. FOX InFlight is a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. JetBlue's in-flight entertainment is powered by LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue.
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This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward looking statements due to many factors, including without limitation, our extremely competitive industry, increases in fuel prices, maintenance costs and interest rates, our ability to implement our growth strategy including the integration of the EMBRAER 190 aircraft into our operations, our significant fixed obligations, our ability to maintain our culture as we grow, our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization, our dependence on the New York metropolitan market, our reliance on automated systems and technology, our reliance on sole suppliers, additional government regulation and changes in our industry due to financial condition and external geopolitical conditions. Information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to, the Company's 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.