Alaska Air: Kris Kutchera VP of IT and Strategy Management
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Ms. Kutchera has more than 15 years of leadership experience in information technology. Ms. Kutchera earned a bachelor of science degree at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and is enrolled in the Executive MBA program at the University of Washington. Ms. Kutchera began her career at Boeing Computer Services and Capgemini America before moving on to leadership positions at Washington Natural Gas (now part of Puget Sound Energy), Fluke, and, most recently, at F5 Networks, where she served as vice president of IT. Ms. Kutchera served as managing director of IT applications, which provides computer applications and business intelligence tools to Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.
At the same time, a 20-year veteran with the company, Wayne Newton, has been promoted to managing director of station operations for Alaska Airlines. Mr. Newton also served as Seattle operations director.
Todd Sproul is Alaska Airlines' new managing director of operations support. Mr. Sproul and his team will focus on the airline's safety and compliance efforts, performance oversight and vendor contracts, ground service equipment, financial reporting, and staff and schedule planning.
Peggy Willingham has been promoted to managing director of strategy management for Alaska Air Group. Ms. Willingham, who joined Alaska Airlines in 1990 as a risk management specialist, served as director of ground safety and environmental affairs, director of the company's Project Management Office and director of strategic planning. ■