HONOLULU – August 31, 2011 - Communications executive and former news reporter Ann Botticelli will join Hawaiian Airlines as the company's senior vice president for corporate communications and public affairs, the airline announced today.
Botticelli will join the staff on October 3, replacing Al Hoffman, who is retiring from the position.
Botticelli will be responsible for internal and external communications, as well as government and community affairs for Hawaii's leading tourism and transportation company.
"Ann's diverse experience as a communicator and her knowledge of business and our local community are well suited to our executive team," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and CEO. "Her leadership will be important to guiding the many facets of our communications strategy as we expand our business."
"It has been a privilege to work with the outstanding leadership at Hawaiian Airlines and with the best group of employees in the industry, who deliver an unmatched product and service every day," said Hoffman. "I couldn't be more pleased about handing over the reins to my long-time colleague, Ann Botticelli."
Botticelli will leave her current position as vice president for community relations and communications at Kamehameha Schools on September 30. Prior to entering public relations, Botticelli spent two decades as a news reporter in Honolulu, covering business, consumer affairs and state government for KITV-4, KHON-TV and The Honolulu Advertiser. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past seven years (2004-2010) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, consumer surveys by
Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline offering flights to Hawaii. Hawaiian was also the nation's highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in the prestigious Airline Quality Rating (AQR) study for 2008 and 2009.
Now in its 82nd year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state's primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 150 daily jet flights between the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at www.HawaiianAirlines.com.