Joanne D. Smith

Joanne D. Smith is a board member at Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, bringing more than 30 years in the travel industry to the role. Her background is shaped by hospitality, customer service, and organizational leadership, with a career centered on service standards, consistency, and people-focused systems. At Delta Air Lines, she held senior roles that expanded her responsibility across marketing, in-flight service, and culture, and she later became Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer until 2025. Her path at Delta began after she studied at California Polytechnic State University. She moved through a series of leadership positions that included Vice President of Marketing and Customer Service for Song, Vice President of Marketing, and Senior Vice President of In-Flight Service. Earlier in that progression, she served as Vice President of Marketing and Customer Service for Song at Delta Air Lines, a role that connected brand presentation with the customer experience. Across these roles, she worked at the intersection of communication, service delivery, and organizational standards, building a leadership profile grounded in operational detail and the ability to maintain a brand promise under pressure. As her responsibilities grew, she took on broader leadership in the company’s people and culture functions. Her work as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer added organizational leadership to a career already rooted in hospitality and service discipline. That combination of experience informs her service on the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas board, where rigor, mentorship, accountability, and clear standards are essential to the profession’s training and evaluation. At Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, she serves for the 2025 to 2027 term. Her perspective brings an executive view of scale, standards, and accountability to an institution built on high expectations and consistency. She has said she is excited to join the board and looks forward to contributing to the growth and evolution of the sommelier profession. She has also said that, as she transitions from her role at Delta, she is eager to bring her experience in fostering hospitality and building an inclusive culture to the organization. That emphasis reflects the broader arc of her career, which has remained focused on service, culture, and leadership. Smith’s honors include 25 Power Women to Watch in Atlanta, Advertising Age’s Top 10 Women to Watch, Wall Street Journal’s Top Women to Watch, Honored Alumni of the Orfalea College of Business, Gold Spotlight Award for distinguished alumni, and AWNY Changing the Game Award. These recognitions reflect a career that has drawn notice across industries and institutions for the reach of her leadership and the breadth of her impact.