UAL Names Glenn Tilton as Chairman, CEO

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

 



UAL Names Glenn Tilton as Chairman, CEO=20
Monday September 2, 3:44 PM EDT=20


By Kathy Fieweger

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Airline industry outsider Glenn Tilton,
ChevronTexaco Corp.'s (CVX
<http://money.excite.com/jsp/qt/full.jsp?time=3D0&symbol_search_text=3DCV=
X>
) vice chairman, on Monday was named chairman and chief executive of UAL
Corp. (UAL
<http://money.excite.com/jsp/qt/full.jsp?time=3D0&symbol_search_text=3DUA=
L>
), the parent of struggling United Airlines, sources familiar with
situation said.

The sources added that United President Rono Dutt and Chief Operating
Officer Andy Studdert were both resigning. United was not immediately
available to comment.

The airline's machinists and pilots, who both have seats on the UAL
board, both initially applauded the appointment. That is an encouraging
sign for the No. 2 U.S. airline, which is trying to win government loan
guarantees and avoid an autumn bankruptcy.

"Glenn Tilton brings the type of qualifications and leadership that
United needs and the support on the board was unanimous," said Paul
Whiteford, head of Air Line Pilots Association master executive council
and a board member.


=20
<http://ae.excite.com/adclick/CID=3D000053817d9372bc00000000/acc_random=3D=
63
41025858/site=3Dexcite.reuters/area=3Dmoney.news/aamsz=3D336x280>  =09

"He also brings the business experience and acumen that we need to turn
the company around."

Tom Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of
Machinists, said: "I got the word that our guys are behind this guy."

Tilton, who has no experience in aviation, will have to contend with
declining revenues and labor strife at United, which demanded $9 billion
in cost cuts from its unions over six years. United aims to cut annual
costs by $2.5 billion to avoid a bankruptcy filing, the company had
said.

The lack of permanent leadership at United has hampered the airline's
ability to work cost-cutting deals with labor, in turn jeopardizing aid
it says is needed from the government.=20

A SERIOUS SEARCH

Since May, the airline has been seeking a replacement for Jack
Creighton, a former timber executive who announced his intention to step
down from his interim post as CEO at the carrier, which is 55
percent-owned by employees.

Many candidates were rumored for the job, but several were known either
to have rejected it or been vetoed by unions.

The cost-cutting plans would raise the likelihood of United receiving a
$1.8 billion federal loan guarantee under a program to aid the airline
industry after the Sept. 11 attacks.

ALPA, representing United's 8,800 pilots, and United's flight attendants
union said they were dissatisfied with the cost-cutting proposals
offered. The IAM said it wouldn't even discuss them until a new CEO was
on board.

United imposed a Sept. 15 deadline to arrange cost-cutting deals. The
company plans to refile a loan application with the U.S. Air
Transportation Stabilization Board for the federal loan guarantee the
next day.=20

TILTON BUILDS CAREER AT TEXACO

Tilton was named chairman and chief executive of Texaco Inc. after Peter
Bijur opted to resign in February 2001 following the deal for Chevron to
buy Texaco.

Following his appointment as president, Texaco U.S.A., he was elected
senior vice president in 1995 and president of the Texaco's global
business unit in 1997.

Tilton's career at Texaco started in 1970 as a sales trainee following
his graduation from University of South Carolina with a bachelor of arts
in international relations.

Dynegy board members tapped Tilton to replace Chairman and Chief
Executive Chuck Watson in May 2002 as chairman. Watson resigned in the
midst of an energy trading scandal. The board viewed him as the most
experienced for the job.

Tilton resisted at first, since it would appear that ChevronTexaco,
through its 26.5 percent stake in Dynegy, was exerting too much
influence. ChevronTexaco has a $1.5 billion option to raise its Dynegy
stake to 36 percent.

Tilton is a director of Lincoln National Corp., Dynegy Inc. and the
American Petroleum Institute.

--Additional reporting by Bill Borden in New York=20


=A92002 Reuters Limited.=20

[Index of Archives]         [NTSB]     [NASA KSC]     [Yosemite]     [Steve's Art]     [Deep Creek Hot Springs]     [NTSB]     [STB]     [Share Photos]     [Yosemite Campsites]