Former President And COO Chew Moved To Advisor Role
Facing a sagging market and new competition in its home market,
this week JetBlue Airways shuffled top executive positions at the
airline... and announced company president and chief operating
officer Russell Chew will step down from those roles later this
spring.
The Associated Press reports Rob Maruster will take over as COO,
while JetBlue CEO Dave Barger will add the title of president to
his business card when Chew steps down June 1 to become a "senior
advisor" to the low-cost airline.
Chew, a former FAA official and 17-year veteran with American
Airlines, joined the carrier in March 2007. He was named president
of JetBlue six months later,
as ANN reported.
"Russ has accomplished more than he set out to achieve when he
joined us in 2007," Barger said. "His influence in helping us
improve operational performance as well as developing the
architecture of our strategic planning function will continue to
benefit JetBlue far into the future. On behalf of JetBlue's 11,500
Crewmembers, and our Board of Directors, I thank Russ for his
service and commitment to JetBlue."
Maruster joined JetBlue in 2005 as Vice President, Operations
Planning, after a 12-year career with Delta Air Lines in a variety
of positions in the carrier's Marketing and Customer Service
departments, culminating in Vice President Airport Customer Service
at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
In 2006, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Airports and
Operational Planning at JetBlue. In 2008, Maruster's
responsibilities expanded to include the Customer Services group,
including Inflight Service, Reservations and System Operations.
"From the day I joined JetBlue, I knew I was home," Maruster
said Thursday in a company release. "Our culture is our greatest
asset, and as a member of the senior leadership team, it is my
responsibility to ensure JetBlue's extraordinary crewmembers have
the tools, resources and information they need to continue
delivering the JetBlue Experience our customers have come to expect
of us."
The AP notes the management shuffle comes as JetBlue faces what
could be its most challenging times ahead,
Valentine's Day ice storms excepted. Though
the Forest Hills, NY-based airline retains a dedicated passenger
following, its fortunes have floundered in the current economic
slump.
Additionally, JetBlue will face new challenges on its home turf
this summer, when low-cost giant Southwest Airlines begins service
from New York's LaGuardia Airport.