Brad Tilden

Brad Tilden
Born	Issaquah, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	President of Alaska Airlines
Years active	2008–present

Bradley D. Tilden is president and chief executive officer of Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Group which is the parent company of Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier Horizon Air. On May 15, 2012 Tilden replaced Bill Ayer as the company's chief executive officer.^[1][2] On July 14, 2012 former Alaska Air Group's CEO Bill Ayer announced that he would be stepping down and named Tilden as his replacement. Prior to becoming the company's President in 2008 Tilden served as Alaska Air Group's chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance, leading the Finance, Information Technology, Planning, Revenue Management and Corporate Real Estate organizations.^[3] In 2015, Tilden was named Executive of the Year by the Puget Sound Business Journal.^[4]

Background

Tilden is an Eagle Scout.^[5] As a young student Tilden's love of airplanes began on a field trip to the airport where he saw his first Boeing 727.^[6] After graduating from Highline High School in 1979^[7] Tilden enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University. Originally planning on becoming a teacher Tilden eventually became interested in business and would earn a degree in business administration and accounting.^[6] Following graduation Tilden worked for eight years at the accounting firm Price Waterhouse at its offices in Seattle, Washington and Melbourne, Australia.^[8] In 1991 Tilden interviewed and was hired by Alaska Airlines. In 1997 he would earn his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

References

1. Gates, Dominic. "Brad Tilden new Alaska Air CEO as Bill Ayer announces retirement". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
2. "Alaska Air Group Corporate Governance - Management". Alaska Air Group, Inc. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
3. "Alaska Airlines Executive Leadership". Alaska Air Group, Inc. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
4. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2015/12/the-2015-psbj-executive-of-the-year-has-led-his.html
5. http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/09/04/check-months-cover-alaska-airlines-magazine/#more-44996
6. "Chance class project inspires Tilden's airline career". Scene. PLU. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
7. "Highline Schools Foundation gives out gold stars to five outstanding individuals". Highline Times. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
8. Clements, Barbara. "Tilden Flies High as Alaska Airlines' new president". PLU. Retrieved 21 February 2012.