Brad Tilden – CEO, Alaska Airlines
01 12, 2017 at 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Why Alaska Airlines believes Different Works
How does a business grow and thrive? For Alaska Airlines, it means breaking the industry mold while running the business in a sustainable way. Hear how Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden redefines customer service in an industry that has historically not performed very well, and why he’s optimistic about what’s ahead in California.
Brad Tilden serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines. Alaska flies more than 200 aircraft to 114 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica and has 15,200 employees. Alaska has grown significantly over the years and is a Fortune 500 company.
Under the leadership of Tilden and his team, Alaska is focusing on low fares, profitable growth of the route network and becoming the easiest airline to fly. Alaska has earned recognition for ranking highest in customer satisfaction among traditional North American carriers by J.D. Power for nine consecutive years. The airline has also ranked No. 1 in on-time performance for six consecutive years by FlightStats.com, and has received other honors for philanthropy, community service and environmental stewardship. In addition to these achievements, Alaska consistently ranks among the nation’s most profitable airlines.
Tilden is a 25-year veteran of Alaska Air Group. He has previously served as executive vice president of finance and planning, chief financial officer, and corporate controller. Before joining Alaska, he spent eight years with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University and an executive master’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington.
Tilden was ranked #22 among the Top 50 Corporate Leaders in America by Fortune magazine in 2015. He has also been recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as Executive of the Year, and by the Boy Scouts of America as a Distinguished Eagle Scout.
Tilden serves on the boards of the Washington Roundtable, the Boy Scouts of America, Pacific Lutheran University, and Nordstorm. Additionally, he chairs the board of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
A Seattle native, Tilden grew up a few miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where he developed an early love of aviation. He holds a commercial pilot’s license and enjoys flying recreationally. He also enjoys cycling and spending time with his family.
