by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:40 AM ET, Thu September 11, 2025
Alaska Air Group, the merged company representing both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, is announcing some changes to both airlines’ executive suite this week.
Following current CEO Joe Sprague’s retirement at Hawaiian Airlines, Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines will succeed him beginning October 29.
Birkett Rakow will be based in the company’s Honolulu hub and will report to Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group. She will also remain on the company’s Executive Committee.
She led Alaska’s sustainability and corporate impact efforts, government affairs, communications and the airline’s venture investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures, among other key parts of business operations for the last eight years.
“Hawai‘i and the Hawaiian Airlines brand are critical to Alaska Air Group’s future and key to our vision of connecting the world to a remarkable travel experience rooted in safety, care and performance,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “Diana has proven herself over an established career as a leader who builds strong teams, delivers results and cares deeply about people and culture. She will be a tireless advocate for the Hawaiian Airlines brand and for Hawai‘i, and I’m confident she will lead with authenticity and vision.”
Sprague, meanwhile, will remain a member of Hawaiian Airlines’ board.
Kyle Levine, Alaska Air Group’s senior vice president, legal, general counsel and corporate secretary is also being promoted to executive vice president, corporate and public affairs, chief legal officer and corporate secretary.
Levine has held various legal roles with the company since joining in 2006, and has held the chief legal post for the past ten years.
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