Leader bio: Rob Kight, S.V.P. ‐ Human Resources

The Human Resources function at Delta is charged with attracting, retaining and developing a diverse, engaged, safety and customer focused team of 80,000 professionals worldwide, while sustaining and advancing the airline’s unique culture of positive engagement. 

Within the HR team, Rob’s specific responsibilities include:

•          Designing and delivering competitive, effective and engaging compensation and benefit programs both in the U.S and in more than 65 countries around the globe to help attract, retain and motivate the best available talent

•          Partnering with leaders in each of Delta’s operating, commercial, corporate support and international business units to drive organizational health, provide business support and strengthen Delta’s culture

•          Delivering HR service to employees across the globe at the same high standards with which they deliver service to our customers through oversight of functions such as HRIS, payroll, occupational health and more

Rob also supports the compensation committee of Delta’s Board of Directors. 

Rob began his Delta career as an analyst in 1985 and held positions of increasing responsibility including director – Human Resources-Europe based in Frankfurt, Germany; director – Human Resource Services and managing director – Human Resources for the 20,000 employees of the Operations division when he left Delta to pursue an opportunity in the technology industry in early 2000. He returned to Delta July 2004 as managing director – Worldwide Benefits & Health Resources and was promoted to the officer level in March, 2005, taking on responsibility for global compensation, including executive compensation, at that time.

Currently, Rob serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Trinity School and as an Advisory Council member of CHRIS Kids.  In addition, he is a Governing Body Co-Chair with the Atlanta HR Leadership Summit. 

Rob is a graduate of Class of 2011 of Leadership Atlanta.  In addition, Rob is a former member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Labor, Education, and Health Advisory Council as well as a former Trustee of the Ron Clark Academy, where he served as treasurer and chair of the board’s finance committee for a number of years.

Rob graduated from Duke University, cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and History.