Southwest's Dave Harvey
[Update, May 6] Dave Harvey to Join Wheels Up as Chief Commercial Officer
After 25 years with Southwest Airlines, most recently heading up Southwest Business as VP and chief sales officer, Dave Harvey on Saturday announced on LinkedIn that he will retire from the carrier. Southwest confirmed the information and added that May 17 will be Harvey's last day.
"We are grateful for his 25 years of service, including leading Southwest Business from inception to where it is today," the carrier said in a statement.
Southwest in 2016 moved corporate sales to a new business function, headed by Harvey as managing director of business development. Over the next eight years, Harvey oversaw such changes as launching a business version of the carrier's loyalty program Rapid Rewards, adding Southwest content into the three major global distribution systems, launching its Business Assist portal and revamping its meetings product.
BTN four times recognized Harvey as one of the 25 Most Influential individuals in business travel, in 2019,2020, 2021 and 2023.
Harvey on LinkedIn noted that "from a 22-year-old Programmer/Analyst in 'Systems' (pre-Technology) to #southwestbusiness today, all I really know is Southwest Airlines." He also wrote that he'll share "the next adventure" soon.
Southwest in the statement said it is "working through transition plans" and did not share additional details.