Alaska Air Group has announced that Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, will become CEO of Hawaiian Airlines effective October 29.
Birkett Rakow will succeed Joe Sprague, who is retiring after a distinguished career in aviation.
Sprague was appointed CEO to guide Hawaiian Airlines through the process of obtaining a single operating certificate (SOC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with Alaska Airlines. With that milestone on track to be completed next month, Birkett Rakow will take the helm.
Based in Honolulu, the company’s second largest hub after Seattle, Birkett Rakow 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 be the first woman CEO for Hawaiian Airlines and will head the company’s Honolulu leadership team, which includes many long-time Hawaiian Airlines leaders. 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.
I’m deeply grateful to Joe for his tremendous contributions to Alaska Air Group over the past 25 years. Joe has served Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and most recently Hawaiian Airlines by prioritizing culture and creating deep connections with employees and communities, while driving results” added Minicucci. “All those who know Joe, know that he is all-in for the people and purpose of Air Group – and I especially appreciate how he has brought that spirit to his time in Hawai‘i, ensuring that Hawaiian Airlines – its people and its brand – is set up as a strong and enduring part of our team and company.”
During her eight years at Alaska, Birkett Rakow has led the company’s sustainability and corporate impact efforts, government affairs, communications, community and cultural relations, sales and customer engagement in Hawai‘i and Alaska, and the airline’s venture investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures. Over the last year, she has also served on the board of Hawaiian Airlines.
Prior to joining Alaska, she held senior executive roles at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente, and earlier in her career was a health policy advisor for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
