SkyWest Airlines 2009 Annual Report Download - page 127

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recommended candidate in light of the director qualifications discussed above. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee also reviews materials provided by professional search firms, if
applicable, or other parties in connection with a candidate who is not proposed by a shareholder. In
evaluating such recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to
achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee has, on occasion, engaged professional search firms to assist in
identifying qualified candidates for Board service. When such firms have been engaged, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee has utilized their services principally for the purpose of
identifying and screening potential candidates and conducting background research; however, the
members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as other directors of the
Company, have conducted interviews with prospective candidates and have performed other functions
in completing the nomination process.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the individuals who served on the Compensation Committee during the year ended
December 31, 2009 was an officer or employee of the Company in 2009 or any time prior thereto.
None of the members of the Compensation Committee during the year ended December 31, 2009 had
any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. None of the executive officers of the Company
served as a member of the Compensation Committee, or similar committee, of any other company
whose executive officer(s) served as a director of the Company or the Compensation Committee.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following narrative compensation discussion and analysis provides information regarding the
Company’s executive compensation objectives, principles, practices and decisions as they relate to the
following named executive officers of the Company (the ‘‘Named Executives’’):
• Jerry C. Atkin, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, SkyWest
Airlines and ASA (the ‘‘Chief Executive’’);
• Bradford R. Rich, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company,
SkyWest Airlines and ASA (the ‘‘CFO’’);
• Russell A. Childs, President and Chief Operating Officer of SkyWest Airlines; and
• Bradford R. Holt, President and Chief Operating Officer of ASA.
The compensation discussion and analysis provides narrative perspective to the tables and
disclosure in the tables following this section.
Compensation Objectives and Principles
The overall objective of the Company’s executive compensation programs is to create long-term
value for the Company’s shareholders, by attracting and retaining talented executives that manage the
Company effectively. The executive compensation programs are also designed with the objective of
aligning the Named Executives’ compensation with the best interests of the Company’s shareholders.
Accordingly, the Company’s executive compensation program incorporates the following principles:
• The overall compensation package should encourage long-term focus and shareholder value
creation.
• Compensation should be competitive with other airlines of comparable size, in order to attract
and retain talented executives.
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