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Shimer will take over the position from Ken Thompson, who is retiring after a quarter-century of service.
SEATTLE, May 8, 2025 — Alaska Air Group, Inc. has announced the appointment of Pete Shimer to its board of directors. Shimer’s career at Deloitte, a global public accounting firm, began as an auditor and progressed through numerous C-suite roles, culminating in his recent tenure as interim chief executive officer. After a 41-year tenure, Shimer is retiring from Deloitte this month. He will succeed Ken Thompson on the Alaska Air Group board, following Thompson’s retirement after 25 years. Shimer’s appointment is effective immediately, and he will be a member of the Audit and Safety Committees of the board.
“I am pleased to welcome Pete to the Alaska Air Group board,” stated board chair Patty Bedient. “His knowledge of operational and financial matters will be invaluable, as will his strong ties to the Seattle community and his extensive history as an Alaska Airlines customer. We anticipate his future involvement.”
Shimer holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Washington, where he is a board member for the university’s Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
A legacy of Alaska values
After 25 years of service, Ken Thompson is retiring from the board, leaving behind a legacy grounded in Alaska values that extends beyond typical board member responsibilities. Following the tragedy of Flight 261, Thompson was a founding member of the board’s Safety Committee and served on all but one board committee throughout his tenure.
“Ken has been a reliable advisor to the management team, providing insights and perspectives that have guided us through numerous critical periods in our history, as well as posing insightful questions that have refined our thinking,” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. “His in-depth knowledge of the company’s values and strategic mindset have played a key role in shaping important decisions that have strengthened our company. We will miss his guidance and wish him the best.”
Thompson was recognized as one of the 100 most influential corporate directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in 2019.
Alaska Air Group directors are elected to one-year terms at the company’s annual shareholder meeting. With Shimer’s election, the board now has 9 independent director seats. CEO Ben Minicucci is a non-independent director on the board.
About Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air are all subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services being a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. With hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, we are committed to providing exceptional service while transporting our passengers to over 140 destinations across North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance, and Hawaiian is scheduled to join in 2026. Through oneworld and our other global partners, passengers can accrue and use miles for travel to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. Travel can be booked at and . More information can be found at and . Alaska Air Group is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “ALK.”
SOURCE Alaska Air Group