Accelya Appoints Kathleen Merrill, Former Southwest Airlines CIO, to Board of Directors

London, UK – March 19, 2025

New Non-Executive Director brings extensive airline technology expertise to support Accelya’s continued growth and industry leadership 

Accelya, a leading global provider of airline retailing and technology solutions, today announced the appointment of Kathleen Merrill to its Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director. Merrill’s appointment underscores Accelya’s momentum as it strengthens its position as a leader in airline retailing, empowering airlines with next-generation solutions tailored to the modern travel ecosystem.

 Merrill brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience in airline technology and operations, most recently serving as Chief Information Officer of Southwest Airlines. In this role, she spearheaded major technology initiatives, overseeing enterprise-wide digital transformation efforts. Prior to serving as CIO, she held several leadership roles at Southwest, including Vice President of Business Transformation, Corporate Delivery, and Technology, as well as Vice President of Strategic Planning and Implementation. Before joining Southwest, she held leadership positions at American Airlines and Capital One Auto Finance, where she gained extensive experience in airline technology and digital strategy, respectively. 

Merrill joins Accelya at an important moment as the company accelerates its investment in enabling advanced airline commerce technology through the FLX ONE platform, Accelya’s modular and open retailing solution closely aligned with IATA standards. Her deep understanding of airline technology, operational excellence, and digital transformation will be instrumental in guiding Accelya’s strategic direction. 

 ”We are delighted to welcome Kathleen to Accelya’s Board,” said Sam Gilliland, CEO of Accelya. “Her proven leadership in driving technology transformation for one of the world’s leading airlines will bring invaluable insights as our organization continues to grow and scale further.” 

 ”Accelya has made remarkable strides in recent years and is increasingly recognized as the leading choice for airlines seeking advanced, interoperable technology that drives Offers & Orders transformation,” said Kathleen Merrill. “I’m truly thrilled to be part of this exciting journey and support Accelya’s continued growth and innovation.” 

 Merrill’s role was sourced through the external board program operated by Vista Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused on enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses and a majority investor in Accelya. Launched in 2017, the board program leverages Vista’s ecosystem and additional resources to identify, train, and appoint qualified board candidates for its portfolio companies. The program works to create a pipeline of highly talented board candidates through programs and partnerships that will drive results for the corporate world at large. 

About Accelya

Accelya is a global leader in airline software, powering over 200 airlines with an open, modular platform that enables them to drive growth, enhance customer experiences, and take control of their retailing. Our FLX ONE platform empowers airlines to transform across Offer, Order, Settlement, and Delivery (OOSD), in line with IATA’s standards for modern retailing.   

With a cloud-native infrastructure powered by AWS, Accelya processes more than 30 billion unique offers daily, settles over $100 billion annually, and delivers more than 50% of global NDC volumes. Our solutions span the entire retail lifecycle, both above and below the wing, giving airlines the flexibility, performance, scalability, and reliability they need.   

Backed by 40 years of industry expertise, long-term support from Vista Equity Partners, and 2,500 employees across 10 global offices, Accelya has the scale and proven track record to meet the evolving needs of the airline industry.   

For more information, visit the Accelya Website.

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