Delta announces executive succession

February 3, 2016
Delta Air Lines, Inc. Board of Directors today announced that Richard H. Anderson has chosen to retire as CEO effective May 2, 2016. At that time, Mr. Anderson will be elevated to Executive Chairman of the Delta Air Lines Board of Directors. “Richard has been an outstanding leader and CEO. His unique combination of strategic and operating skills, plus his commitment to employees, corporate culture, customers and shareholders has redefined Delta and led to an entirely new and better way of flying around the world. Under Richard’s leadership, Delta has become the most profitable and best run airline that consistently delivers excellent customer service. The entire Board of Directors extends a hearty thanks for his service, his leadership and his thoughtful succession planning process. This succession plan has been several years in the making and will keep Delta on top of the global industry,” said Dan Carp, Chairman of the Board.
Ed Bastian, President of Delta, will be appointed CEO effective May 2, 2016 and Glen Hauenstein, Executive Vice President, will be appointed President of Delta, also effective May 2, 2016. Gil West is promoted immediately to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Ed has been a critical part of Delta’s success. He is an exceptional leader and has been an invaluable partner in leading the remarkable transformation of Delta over the last decade. Likewise, Glen and Gil are extraordinary leaders who have led the transformation of Delta’s network, product and operations. I hold Ed, Glen and Gil in the highest esteem, both personally and professionally, and have every confidence that they will lead Delta to even higher levels of performance,” said Richard Anderson. “Ed Bastian will lead the best management team in the global industry. Delta’s succession planning and executive development has produced the top performing executive team in the global airline industry,” said Dan Carp, Chairman of the Delta Board of Directors.
Effective immediately, the Board of Directors also appoints Steve Sear, President International and Executive Vice President Global Sales. Steve will lead the Atlantic,
Asia-Pacific, and Latin America organizations in addition to global sales.
Upon Richard Anderson’s appointment as Executive Chairman on May 2, 2016, Frank Blake, a current Delta Director, will be appointed Lead Director of the Delta Air Lines Board of Directors. Dan Carp will step down as non-executive Chairman and remain on the Board of Directors of Delta. “Dan Carp has been an excellent mentor and colleague as the Chairman of Delta since 2007, overseeing the remarkable resurgence of Delta as the recognized leader of the global aviation business,” said Richard Anderson.

 

Well that ****ing sucks.

 

There goes the neighborhood

 

Zero difference between RA and Sleepy Ed as far as we're concerned. Both anti-labor ball busters.

 

Whadda' ya' mean??? These guys come and go. You & I, my friend, are here for the career--such as it is, these days. Managers? Hired for a season, reap millions, and "poof"….gone. New day, new guy, same job. Nothin' to see here.

 

Not thrilled about this...

 

So he has 3 months to catch up on his sleep.
.

 

RA has been a great CEO for Delta. That being said, I don't think he's been the friend to the pilot group that some think he has been.

He has had a bad habit of saying one thing and doing something else. And once again, he will be out the door just as things get ugly on the labor front.

I'm sure Ed won't be a significant change from RA.

 

Nah, he'll give in to our demands and ride off into the sunset leaving EB to deal with our higher cost.

 

If anything Ed will be worse for Delta employees. He's a Wall St guy.