Delta Promotes Internal Leaders to Senior Positions

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Dec 16, 2010, 11:30 ET

ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced that it has promoted from vice president to senior vice president two leaders integral to the airline's long-term business strategy. Neel Shah has been named senior vice president and chief cargo officer and Chris Collette has been named senior vice president – Supply Chain Management.

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Shah, 41, will continue to lead Delta's cargo division, overseeing the company's nearly $1 billion freight and mail business. His promotion from vice president to senior vice president acknowledges the company's commitment to continuing to build a world-class cargo business that leverages the size and scope of Delta's global network. He will continue reporting to Delta President Ed Bastian.

"Neel has transformed Delta's cargo division into one of the world's most extensive cargo operations, with industry-leading processes and technology to serve our customers," said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. "Under his leadership, the Delta Cargo brand has moved from being one among the pack, to being a respected industry leader."

Shah joined Delta in January 2008 from United Airlines Cargo where he served as vice president – Sales and Marketing. He serves on the Air Transport Association's Executive Cargo Council, the SkyTeam Cargo Executive Board, and is an executive appointee of Gov. Sonny Perdue to the Georgia State Workforce Investment Board and the Georgia Department of Transportation Private Sector Advisory Committee. Shah holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College.

Chris Collette, 48, heads Delta's supply chain management organization. During his tenure as vice president – Supply Chain Management, he has created a robust supplier performance management process and continues to enhance Delta's focus on growing supplier diversity around the world. In support of Delta's $2 billion investment in upgraded customer products, services and facilities, he is playing a lead role in vendor identification and contracting. Collette reports to Steve Gorman, Delta's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"Chris' promotion to senior vice president not only reflects the tangible results he has delivered, but also the leadership he has shown in effectively managing Delta's more than $15 billion global supply chain for goods and services," Anderson said. "He has maintained a diligent focus on overseeing Delta's vendor partnerships with suppliers large and small around the globe."

Before joining the supply chain management team, Collette held positions of increasing responsibility at Northwest Airlines since 1990. Collette serves as a board member for Aeroxchange, Delta's e-commerce provider, and is a board member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Collette received a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of St. Thomas.

"These promotions reflect the internal bench strength and caliber of talent within the Delta executive team, leading Delta's more than 80,000 professional men and women worldwide," Anderson said.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 358 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.