Alaska Air Group today announced that Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, will become CEO of Hawaiian Airlines effective Oct. 29, succeeding Joe Sprague who will retire after a long career at Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Hawaiian Airlines.
Birkett Rakow will be based in Honolulu, the company’s second largest hub after Seattle, and will be responsible for the long-term performance and advancement of the Hawaiian Airlines brand and Alaska Air Group’s business in Hawai‘i, supporting the company’s guests and over 6,600 employees across the Islands. She will continue to report to Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, and remain on the company’s Executive Committee. Birkett Rakow’s role will also continue to include oversight of company-wide sustainability and venture investment strategies.
