Southwest Airlines promotes exec to take position left vacant by incoming CEO Bob Jordan

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), the second-busiest airline in Houston, has promoted a top communications leader in an executive succession plan that will end with a new chief executive.

The Dallas-based airline announced June 30 that Linda Rutherford, senior vice president and chief communications officer, would also add the title executive vice president of people and communications, effective immediately. The position, formerly called executive vice president of corporate services, was most…