WASHINGTON (TIP): On February 16, Alaska Airlines board of directors named Charu Jain vice president and chief information officer (CIO) of Alaska Airlines.

Jain comes to the airline from IBM Global Business Services, where she led the team helping American Airlines integrate its IT systems. Prior to that she worked 20 years at United Airlines in progressive roles from programmer to senior managing director of airline operations technology and technology integration before leaving the company in 2012. As Alaska’s CIO, Jain will lead a department of more than 400 information technology professionals.

“Charu’s experience as both an airline executive and consultant is perfectly suited to help Air Group successfully integrate Virgin America from a technology standpoint,” said Brandon Pedersen

Alaska Airlines executive vice president of finance and CFO. “Throughout her 24-year career, Charu has been able to blend thoughtful leadership with a focus on results and we’re excited to have her onboard.”

Jain has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lucknow University in India and an MBA in International Management at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management