Joanne Smith

Joanne Smith is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Delta Air Lines. She is responsible for preserving the airline's unique culture of positive engagement with its more than 80,000 employees, overseeing talent management and development, recruitment, HR service delivery, diversity and inclusion, HR policies and programs.

Under Joanne’s leadership, Delta was named one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The list is based on employee ratings of their workplace culture, including the pride they take in their jobs, the camaraderie they experience with co-workers, and level of trust they feel toward leaders.

She previously served as Senior Vice President – In-Flight Service where she led a team of more than 20,000 flight attendants, supervisory and support personnel. In addition, she also oversaw the airline’s onboard product development and catering operations, which includes 154 kitchens across the globe supporting 3,100 flights per day.

Joanne joined Delta in 2002 as Vice President – Marketing and Customer Service for Song, the airline’s former low-cost carrier. Prior to her current role, she also served as Delta’s Vice President – Marketing, where she managed the airline’s brand, worldwide marketing communications, marketing sponsorships, community affairs, customer research, and product and service development.

Throughout her 30-year career in the travel industry, Joanne has received numerous awards and recognition including 25 Power Women to Watch in Atlanta, Advertising Age Top 10 Women to Watch, Wall Street Journal’s Top Women to Watch, Honored Alumni of the Orfalea College of Business and Gold Spotlight Award for distinguished alumni, AWNY Changing the Game Award, and YWCA Academy of Women Achievers. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Delta Air Lines Foundation, Board of Trustees for Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia and is an Advisory Board Member of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Joanne holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University.