Southwest Airlines Co. has recently added six new members to its board of directors. This decision was made as part of a strategic agreement with Elliott Investment Management. The purpose of this move is to address the demands made by the activist investor and to support the CEO of the company.

The new board members, who will start their roles on November 1, include industry figures such as Pierre Breber, who previously served as the CFO of Chevron, David Cush, the former CEO of Virgin America, and Sarah Feinberg, who was the federal railroad administrator. In addition to these individuals, the board will also welcome Dave Grissen, the former president of Marriott International Group, Gregg Saretsky, the former CEO of WestJet, and Patricia Watson, who currently holds the position of Chief Information and Technology Officer at NCR Atleos.

These appointments have been made in response to shareholder pressures and changing market conditions, as Southwest Airlines aims to improve its governance and operational strategies.