WestJet welcomes Mark Porter as EVP, People and Culture

CALGARY, Aug. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Porter to the position of Executive Vice-President, People and Culture, effective October 26, 2015.

Mark joins WestJet from Shaw Communications where he was the Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, for almost 10 years. Prior to his work with Shaw, Mark was with Molson Canada where he held several senior human resources positions including Chief People Officer. Mark also brings aviation experience to WestJet, having worked with Bombardier Aerospace in a variety of engineering and human resource roles for more than 15 years.

"I welcome Mark to the WestJet family and look forward to having him lead this vital role for WestJet," said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. "Our people are our competitive edge and Mark's deep experience and knowledge of the human resources field will assist us greatly as we continue to grow and our business becomes more complex."

"There aren't many companies in any field that celebrate their people as WestJet does and I'm honoured and excited to join the team and contribute to what is already an award-winning culture," said Mark Porter. "In an increasingly complex human resources world, I look forward to helping shape the next chapter of WestJet's renowned people relations."

Mark has his higher national diploma in mechanical engineering with postgraduate diplomas in manufacturing management and human resources management from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, and his MBA in applied general management from the University of Sussex, England. Mark has been married to his wife Dawn for over 27 years and has one daughter, Sarah, who lives in Victoria, B.C.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods  ̶  even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine and RewardsCanada.ca) 
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE WestJet

Image with caption: "Mark Porter is WestJet's new Executive Vice-President, People and Culture. (CNW Group/WestJet)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150825_C9543_PHOTO_EN_44153.jpg

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