Spirit Airlines announced executive leadership updates today, including the appointment of Fred Cromer as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 8, 2024. Cromer will collaborate closely with Interim CFO Brian McMenamy, who will continue in a senior finance role to ensure a seamless transition.

Fred Cromer brings 30 years of aviation industry experience, with expertise in financial management, strategic planning, treasury, and operations. He has held numerous executive positions, most recently as Chief Executive Officer, and previously as Chief Financial Officer, of Xwing, Inc., an innovative aviation technology company developing the world’s first autonomous regional cargo aircraft. Before Xwing, Cromer served as President of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft from 2015 to 2020, President of International Lease Finance Corporation from 2008 to 2015, and Chief Financial Officer and Vice President at ExpressJet Airlines from 1998 to 2008. Cromer holds an A.B. degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University.

“Fred’s extensive career in aviation and his proven track record of strategic financial leadership across all aspects of the industry bring valuable insights and expertise that will help us successfully evolve our business model as we navigate the changes in the demand environment,” said Ted Christie, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Fred has significant experience leading companies through periods of substantial growth and transformation, and we are very excited to bring aboard someone of Fred’s caliber as we continue to execute on Spirit’s transformation strategy.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining Spirit at such a pivotal time for both the company and the industry,” said Cromer. “I really look forward to working alongside Ted and the rest of the Spirit team to help drive continuous improvement and build a sustainable and successful business going forward.”

Spirit Airlines is excited to announce several key leadership updates:

Dana Shapir Alviene will take on the role of Senior Vice President of Inflight and Airport Experience starting July 29, 2024. She comes to Spirit from Avianca, where she was the Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. Before her tenure at Avianca, Shapir Alviene held various leadership positions at JetBlue Airways from 2014 to 2023, including Vice President of Airports Experience. Her aviation career began at Southwest Airlines, where she gained valuable experience in operational, customer service, and leadership roles. Shapir Alviene’s extensive expertise will enhance Spirit’s guest experience and foster better collaboration between the Airports and Inflight teams.

Tomas Ranaldi has been promoted to Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis, effective immediately. Ranaldi, a crucial member of the Spirit team since 2015, has excelled in several roles within the finance department.

Christie continued, “We are delighted to welcome Dana to the Spirit Family and to elevate Tomas to his new role. I also want to thank Brian for stepping into the role of Interim CFO and agreeing to continue working with us going forward. He is an invaluable part of the Spirit team, and his experience and knowledge of Spirit will help ensure a smooth transition, as well as bringing wise leadership to ongoing projects.”

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