crxpilot

Too bad he left......one of the good ones!

Sun Country names Jude Bricker as new CEO - StarTribune.com

Sun Country names Jude Bricker as new CEO

Jude Bricker, formerly of Allegiant Air, hired after a former executive was reassigned.
By Kristen Leigh Painter Star Tribune JULY 10, 2017 — 9:53PM

Sun Country Airlines has appointed a new president and chief executive with experience in low-cost airlines.

The Eagan-based airline announced late Monday it has hired Jude Bricker to lead the company. Bricker previously worked for Allegiant Air, an airline known for offering no-frills flights.

"We are pleased to have Jude Bricker joining us at Sun Country to lead our organization going forward," said Marty Davis, the airline's chairman.

"Sun Country is composed of a tremendously experienced group of employees," he said. "Our ongoing challenge is to grow this business in the most optimal manner, and do so within the market opportunities before us. Jude will lead that effort."

The appointment comes one week after Davis notified Sun Country employees that he had asked CEO Zarir Erani to step down from his position at the airline.

Erani, well regarded by many employees, will take a position working on technology capabilities for Cambria Co., another Minnesota business owned by the Davis Family.

The decision to move Erani came after a review over several months of the airline's activities and management by owners, Davis said last week.

Bricker has spent the past decade with Las Vegas-based Allegiant where he most recently served as chief operating officer and executive vice president.

He resigned from Allegiant in late May.

Like Sun Country, Allegiant specializes in — and profits from — building vacation packages for its northern-city customers headed to warm-weather destinations.

But the two airlines operate different customer-service models. Sun Country has built a reputation as a friendly airline that still includes certain free "perks," such as a free carry-on bag and complimentary beverages.

Allegiant is an ultra-low-cost airline, which charges fees for everything from seat assignments to nonalcoholic beverages.

Bricker was credited as a key architect in helping Allegiant reach its first-ever collective-bargaining contract with its pilots last year after contentious negotiations between the labor group and management.

"I am excited to be joining Sun Country. This team has established Sun Country as a pre-eminent name in travel in Minnesota," Bricker said. "I look forward to continuing the tradition of customer focus while delivering safe and reliable service to top destinations."

Bricker, along with his wife and three teenage children, will be moving to Minnesota in the near future, Sun Country said in a news release.

dutch rudder

Sun Country folk may not realize it yet, but they are lucky to have him!

Pull and Rotate

I have a class date at Sun Country and was a bit concerned with the firing of their CEO and who his replacement would be. What's the consensus from you guys at Allegiant regarding Jude??

dutch rudder

The consensus was positive. I think most of us were shocked when the announcement was made that he was leaving. In my opinion, he was one of the few "good ones" in this industry. You'll understand when you meet him in person.

I don't know his plans for Sun Country, but I think his impact will be positive.

tyler durden

Allegiant employee's loss, Sun Country's gain. Solid and visionary business leader.

Pull and Rotate

"The consensus was positive. I think most of us were shocked when the announcement was made that he was leaving. In my opinion, he was one of the few "good ones" in this industry. You'll understand when you meet him in person.

I don't know his plans for Sun Country, but I think his impact will be positive."

"Allegiant employee's loss, Sun Country's gain. Solid and visionary business leader."

Thanks guys. Hope it means good things for the future at Sunny.

PiperPower

What are the chances of a merger? It seems like a strange move to leave a $3 million salary for a position at SY where the last CEO was making $250,000. There's gotta be more to the story on this move.

ecam

I'd say ANYTHING is POSSIBLE. The question is what's likely.

Allegiant gains an international infrastructure by buying SY, which is something management has been chasing for a while now, but haven't been able to pull off. Also get a bunch of ETOPS NGs that can make it to Hawaii. AAY would love to get back there after our last 757 gets parked late this year.

Down side is adding another type to an airline that's gone all in for Airbus. My understanding is that SY also carries a large debt load, something allegiant management shuns. Integrating two very different pilot groups with two different unions could be a fiasco. Totally different business models. Allegiant will do anything to make a buck, but runs away from anything that loses a dime like the building is on fire. Our CEO likes to gamble though.

I think the negatives outweigh the positives, but I don't have an MBA, so what do I know. If G4 did buy SY, I would expect everything there as you know it to change. Don't expect more than a handful of planes devoted to MSP. 737s will scatter among the system. It will be more of an assimilation than a merger. Kind of like Alaska/Virgin.

crxpilot

Wont happen. Nothing gained by it for Allegiant, and the different type wont appeal. Thats my crystal ball. Having said that, I absolutely expect Jude to turn Sun Country into Allegiant 2.0.

dawgdriver

Rumor has it he might have been asked to leave.