OREANDA-NEWS. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced that Tom Nealon will join Southwest Airlines in January 2016 as Executive Vice President Strategy & Innovation.

Until recently, Nealon served Southwest as a member of its Board of Directors. He was appointed to that position in 2010 and during the course of his service on the Board, he has participated on the Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Safety and Compliance Oversight committees. Nealon will report to Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly.

Formerly, Nealon was Group Executive Vice President of JCPenney Company, Inc. He held other leadership positions at JCPenney in Information Technology, with jcp.com, Corporate Strategy and Planning, and Digital Ventures. Nealon joined JCPenney as Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer in 2006.

"As a board member, Tom was engaged and contributed at a high level," Kelly said. "Now, with his extensive knowledge in strategy, technology, and innovation, he will serve Southwest well in this leadership position."

Nealon earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Dallas. Before JCPenney, Nealon was a partner with The Feld Group, where he served in a consultant capacity as Chief Information Officer for Southwest from May 2002 to October 2006. Nealon has also served as Chief Information Officer for Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo.