Whitehurst Passed Over For CEO, President Promotion

Delta Air Lines announced Wednesday the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Jim Whitehurst, after he was passed over for chief executive and president.

"While we hoped Jim would stay, we respect his decision to move on in pursuit of new challenges," said Jerry Grinstein, retiring CEO of Delta, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.. "Jim was a hard-charging champion of Delta's people who earned the admiration of us all, and an effective ambassador for the transformation he helped craft.

As ANN reported, the carrier made a bit of a surprise move when Richard Anderson, who served as CEO of Northwest Airlines from 2002-2004, was named as Delta's new CEO last week to succeed Grinstein, who said he would step down as CEO after the carrier exited from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

"With Richard, Ed [Bastian] and the rest of Delta's management team, I am confident the airline remains in good hands and will move forward with its solid plan with the same inclusiveness, respect and commitment to excellence that have become the hallmarks of the great progress Delta people have made together," Grinstein said.

Anderson, 52, was one of seven new directors the carrier's creditors named to its board when it emerged from bankruptcy.

"We're going to miss him. He's been an important part of the team," said Ed Bastian, chief financial officer and newly appointed president.

Whitehurst won't leave Delta empty-handed. He'll receive about the same stock and option package he got when the carrier emerged from Chapter 11 in April -- a package worth about $8 million.

FMI: www.delta.com