He Joined, He Left, He Returned, Now He's Gone Again

Chief financial officer for JetBlue, John Harvey, has resigned after only 18 months on the job, according to Dow Jones on Thursday November 7.

Harvey left JetBlue to pursue other interests, according to company officials.
Discount carrier JetBlue based in Forest Hills, N.Y said that senior vice president of finance and the company's principal accounting officer Ed Barnes, would fill the top financial position temporarily.

JetBlue spokeswoman Alison Eshelman said that Harvey, 41, did not share the details of his plans with the company, but said that he had been considering a career move for sometime.

Harvey was promoted by JetBlue to finance chief from treasurer in May 2006. Harvey joined the carrier in 1999, but left to join Skyworks Capitol in 2003. In 2004, Harvey again rejoined JetBlue.

Harvey's exit marks the most recent change in senior management of the seven-year old airline, which seems to be losing its edge over competitors because of higher fuel prices and recent competition form Virgin America.

David Neeleman stepped down in May as CEO and took the title of nonexecutive chairman, ceding control of the airline to David Barger, as reported in ANN.

These changes follow recent groundings of more than 1,200 flights that caused the carrier to bulk up its operation's oversight.

In 2006 Barnes started with JetBlue as a vice president in finance after working for Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) and before that America West Airlines, now part of US Airways Group Inc. (LCC)

FMI: www.jetblue.com