Southwest Airlines shakes up board, keeps CEO despite pressure [Video]

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines will revamp its board and the chairman will retire next year, but it intends to keep CEO Robert Jordan after a meeting with hedge fund Elliott Investment Management, which has sought a leadership shakeup at the airline including Jordan’s ouster.

Southwest said Tuesday that six directors will leave the board in November and it plans to appoint four new ones, potentially including candidates put forward by Elliott.

Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. rose slightly before the opening bell Tuesday.

Elliott, the fund led by billionaire investor Paul Singer, has built a 10% stake in recent weeks and advocated changes it says will improve Southwest’s financial performance and stock price. The two sides met Monday.

Elliott blames Southwest’s management for the airline’s stock price dropping by more than …