Bill Ayer retiring as CEO of Alaska Air Group

The Alaska Air Group board of directors and Bill Ayer, chairman and chief executive officer, announced that Ayer will retire as CEO of Air Group and its subsidiary carriers, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, effective at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on May 15th. Brad Tilden, a 21-year veteran at Air Group, will succeed Ayer as CEO of Air Group and the company’s two airlines and will remain as president of Alaska Airlines. Ayer will continue to serve as chairman of the board.