JetBlue Airways announced Jan. 8 that Joanna Geraghty, currently the company’s president and chief operating officer, will succeed Robin Hayes as CEO effective Feb. 12. Hayes will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors until that time, at which point Geraghty will join the board. Hayes will serve as a strategic advisor to the company over the coming months.

“When [Hayes] informed us of his decision to retire after many years of service to JetBlue, consistent with the board’s extensive succession planning the board unanimously voted to transition the role to Joanna, knowing she is fully prepared to step into the role,” Peter Boneparth, chair of JetBlue’s board, said in a press release. “Joanna is a proven strategic leader and she is clearly the right person to carry JetBlue forward into this next chapter. The combination of her passion for the business, deep understanding of the airline, and commitment to creating value for shareholders, customers, and crewmembers provided the leadership we needed through times of unparalleled industry disruption. Together, she and Robin have worked to ensure the company is strong and well positioned for the future.”

Geraghty said in the release: “I am honored and excited to serve as the next CEO of JetBlue. With a beloved brand, an industry-leading customer experience, a unique culture, and the industry’s best crew members, JetBlue has long been a disruptor. I’m excited to continue working with JetBlue’s 25,000 crew members who are as energized as I am about challenging the status quo and bringing humanity to an industry long dominated by the legacy carriers. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 20-plus years, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum as we execute on our strategic initiatives, return to profitable growth, and generate sustainable value for our shareholders and all our stakeholders.”

During Geraghty’s nearly 20-year career at JetBlue, she has contributed with various roles of increasing responsibility. In 2018, she was named president and chief operating officer, responsible for the airline’s operations and commercial performance including network, brand and marketing, and revenue management. Prior to this, Geraghty served as JetBlue’s executive vice president, customer experience, responsible for airports, customer support, and inflight service. She also held the role of executive vice president, chief people officer, as well as vice president, associate general counsel and director, litigation and regulatory affairs. She has also served as a member of the board of the JetBlue Foundation. Before joining JetBlue, she was a partner at the law firm Holland & Knight.

Geraghty serves on the board of directors of L3Harris Technologies and is chairperson of the board of Concern Worldwide, an international not-for-profit. She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross, her master’s in international relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.