Gary C. Kelly replaced Herb Kelleher, one of the founders and chairman of the board, as president when he resigned in May 2008. Kelly began his 22-year career with Southwest in the finance department as controller. In that time, he has risen to the top of Southwest Airlines, holding positions such as vice president of finance, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and vice chairman. Kelly, with such initiatives as fuel hedging, has been instrumental in Southwest's recent success.