
Douglas H. Brooks Succeeds Rakesh Gangwal As Southwest Airlines Board Chairperson
Douglas H. Brooks has been appointed as the Independent Chairperson of Southwest Airlines’ Board, effective August 1, 2025. He succeeds Rakesh Gangwal, who stepped down from the Chair role due to additional time commitments but will remain on the Board.
Gangwal, who became Chair last November, will lead the newly formed Fleet Oversight Committee, focusing on aircraft fleet acquisition strategy.
Brooks has served as a Director at Southwest Airlines since 2010. He is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brinker International, a leading global casual dining restaurant company. During his tenure at Brinker, Brooks held various leadership roles, guiding the company’s operations, strategic growth, and brand development. His extensive experience in Corporate Governance and executive management spans multiple decades, providing valuable insights to the airline’s leadership.
Gangwal is the Co-Founder of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the parent company of IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share. He has held several leadership roles in the global aviation industry, including Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Worldspan Technologies, a provider of travel technology and information services. Gangwal also served as President, CEO, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of US Airways Group. Gangwal‘s career spans decades of experience in airline management, operations, and technology-driven transformation.