After Emerging from Bankruptcy, Delta looks to New Chief
to “Continue the Fight”
On August 21, 2007, after what Gerald Grinstein coined “the world record
for the longest goodbye by a CEO in American industrialized history,” the
board of directors of Delta Air Lines announced that Delta board member and
former CEO of Northwest Airlines Richard H. Anderson had been elected
to succeed Grinstein as the company’s new chief executive officer. Anderson’s appointment
comes almost a year after Grinstein announced that he would retire his post once the
company emerged from bankruptcy protection. According to Daniel A. Carp, chairman of
Delta’s board of directors, the decision was made based on Anderson’s “blend of seasoned
leadership, strategic skills, international experience, and airline knowledge.” Anderson
becomes the eighth CEO in Delta’s 78-year history.
Most recently Anderson served as executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group and
president of UnitedHealth’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining UnitedHealth in
2004, he had a 14-year career at Northwest Airlines, where he served as vice president
and deputy general counsel; senior vice president of technical operations and airport affairs; executive vice president and chief operating officer; and as chief executive officer from 2001 to 2004. Before Northwest, Anderson worked as in-house counsel for Continental Airlines, where he ultimately served as staff vice president and deputy general counsel.
Office of Communications and External Affairs
Robinson College of Business,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Tel: 404-413-7080; Fax: 404-413-7076; E-mail: External Affairs
On August 21, 2007, after what Gerald Grinstein coined “the world record
for the longest goodbye by a CEO in American industrialized history,” the
board of directors of Delta Air Lines announced that Delta board member and
former CEO of Northwest Airlines Richard H. Anderson had been elected
to succeed Grinstein as the company’s new chief executive officer. Anderson’s appointment
comes almost a year after Grinstein announced that he would retire his post once the
company emerged from bankruptcy protection. According to Daniel A. Carp, chairman of
Delta’s board of directors, the decision was made based on Anderson’s “blend of seasoned
leadership, strategic skills, international experience, and airline knowledge.” Anderson
becomes the eighth CEO in Delta’s 78-year history.
