JetBlue Airways lawyer Renée Anckner has ascended to the vice president and associate general counsel seat in a promotion that also positions her as principal compliance and privacy officer for the New York-based airline. 

Anckner is climbing the legal department ladder at JetBlue as the company moves to acquire rival Spirit Airlines in a $3.8 billion merger, which has raised antitrust concerns. If antitrust issues end up grounding the deal, JetBlue has agreed to pay Spirit a $70 million "reverse break-up fee" and shell out another $400 million to Spirit stockholders.