Delta COO Resigns

[Hutchman]

AP
Delta Chief Operating Officer Resigns
Wednesday August 29, 4:55 pm ET
By Harry R. Weber, AP Business Writer
Delta Chief Operating Officer Resigns After Losing Out on Top Job
ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. said Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer James Whitehurst, who was passed over for the carrier's top job, has resigned, effective immediately.Outgoing Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein said in a statement that Atlanta-based Delta had hoped Whitehurst would stay, but the airline respects "his decision to move on in pursuit of new challenges."
The nation's No. 3 carrier said last week that former Northwest Airlines Chief Executive Richard Anderson would become Delta's new CEO on Sept. 1.
Whitehurst and Delta Chief Financial Officer Ed Bastian had both been top internal candidates to replace Grinstein but were passed over. Bastian, who received a promotion, is staying with Delta.
"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," Grinstein said. "With Richard, Ed 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."

 

[jke406]

AP
Delta Chief Operating Officer Resigns
Wednesday August 29, 4:55 pm ET
By Harry R. Weber, AP Business Writer
Delta Chief Operating Officer Resigns After Losing Out on Top Job

Anyone know if he had a non-compete agreement?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Jim Whitehurst was a real asset to Delta. He has a great resume' and track record.


....

Jim Whitehurst, 38, is Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for Operations, Sales and Customer Service, Network and Revenue Management, Marketing, and Corporate Strategy.
Whitehurst previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Network and Planning Officer. Prior to joining Delta in 2002, Whitehurst served as Vice President and Director of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and held various leadership roles in their Chicago, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Atlanta offices.
A native of Columbus, Ga., Whitehurst graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics. He also attended Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, Germany, holds a general course degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

[michael707767]

I am very disappointed that Whitehurst is leaving. It's a great blow to Delta.

But, as long as Hauenstein and Cortelyou don't leave, we will be fine.

 

[General Lee]

That really is too bad. He was a very much a people person in a management position. I think Michael707767 is correct though, there are some other guys too that are very valuable to this company, and they need to stay. Whitehurst will be missed, though.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[PHXFLYR]

Hmmmm.............


PHXFLYR

 

[SkiFishFly]

Where is he headed?

 

[Old School]

Jim Whitehurst has been the heir apparent for almost a year. His fresh thinking and youth put life back into Delta when they needed it most.

 

[FlyDouglasJets]

The Columbus, Georgia, native will receive a severance payment equal to his annual salary of $382,500 plus his targeted bonus of two-times his annual salary, or about $1.15 million, according to a regulatory filing.
Whitehurst also agreed to certain conditions prohibiting him from working for a competitor, Delta said, but didn't specify how long that agreement lasts.




wonder how long that non-compete clause is?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Makes you wonder if he did not want to be around for what is next....

 

[Schiphol]

No...its because he lost the horserace for CEO, at a certain point: its up or out.

This straight from a very senior retired capt inside Delta.

I just got conditionally hired today, and all the bigwigs were walking by the pilot hiring offices on the way to the board meeting.

Pretty excited to become one w/ the widget.

 

[PHXFLYR]

"....one with the widget ?!!?" Oh,brother....


PHXFLYR

 

[Schiphol]

Hey...gotta type....SWA shutdown! Happy to have a job man, just happy to have a job. Now the payscales need a goot once-over

 

[Truckdriver]

I agree he was a great guy and it would have been nice to have him as the CEO. However, I think Delta has people in place to continue the march forward. Maybe he'll go run United then everyone can run wild with the rumor that a Delta/United merger is imminent.

 

[vetrider]

Hmmmm.............


PHXFLYR

We could use him at our place here in the desert.

 

[General Lee]

Makes you wonder if he did not want to be around for what is next....

He has been very excited up until this point. He thought it was between him and Bastian, and knew most people did not like Bastian, especially the pilots. So, when the board chose someone else, he probably got pizzed. I can understand that. Also, Anderson did get a big compensation package, but a lot of it is incentive based. If we don't do well, neither does he. He needs to make good decisions.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I agree he was a great guy and it would have been nice to have him as the CEO. However, I think Delta has people in place to continue the march forward. Maybe he'll go run United then everyone can run wild with the rumor that a Delta/United merger is imminent.

I thought he was very smart, but in reality, he is just 39 years old (younger than I am!), and could use a tad bit more experience. If he got CEO this young, he might go out and do something stupid, like go to a golf tournament after party and get wasted..... No thanks.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Deadalus]

I feel sorry for you guys at Delta now. Anderson will make the company do well alright......by taking a chunk out of your rear. I was sitting in a hotel Jacuzzi and low and behold one of the people sitting there was Northwest management. They sure don't think much of pilots. The recent decision is payback from the creditors. Your previous boss did right by the company in fending off the hostile takeover. He however cost some very influential people a lot of money. I hope they fail in their attempt to extract that loss from the Delta employees.

 

[Aubie]

Hey do you think John Wayne Bobbitt gets uncomfortable when he hears the phrase "severance package" ?

 

[9rj9]

wrong, wrong, wrong

quote two weeks ago from GenLee

"Anderson was very well liked at NWA, but left for a bigger money job and United Healthcare as one of their senior VPs. He was appointed to the board of directors at Delta, and there was some speculation he could be the next CEO. I am pleased. Whitehurst, the COO, was my second choice, but he is 39 and likely not going anywhere for awhile. Bastian, the CFO, was not liked by the pilots (making statements in BK court like "I stay awake at night wondering if I took ENOUGH from the pilots") but he was a good CFO, and he should remain the CFO. Look out for big announcements coming up from our new CEO about orders, routes, etc." Geneal Lee"

I bet JB snaps him up, just as they did Bushy

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

This straight from a very senior retired capt inside Delta.

.

well, then there's no way it could possibly be untrue.........

 

[IXLR8]

Makes you wonder if he did not want to be around for what is next....

Like, say, Richard Anderson at NWA..........

 

[Schiphol]

well, then there's no way it could possibly be untrue.........

Ok, point well taken. Let me elaborate....someone with first hand knowledge.

 

[71KILO]

Not a thread hijack but...

I noticed Schiphol said he got the conditional at DAL.

Not a single congrats!??? From anybody?

I'll be the first then.

GOOD ON YA!


OK, back to the thread sportsfans...

 

[GogglesPisano]

Congrats, Schiphol and welcome aboard.

As a new guy I can tell you that this is by far the best training environment I've ever been in.

It feels good to have finally achieved a life-long goal.

 

[Schiphol]

Thanks man. There assuredly will be ups and downs...but I'm very excited to be coming on board (hopefully) at this point in Delta's history.

Again, just happy to be in the game coach.

 

[PHXFLYR]

Congratulations and best wishes .My wife is an agent with you guys. Class outfit for sure. Kinda makes us all wonder how they let the General slip thru the cracks,though.


PHXFLYR

 

[PHXFLYR]

We could use him at our place here in the desert.

We need more than that,my friend. Anyway, when they leave high level postions like that they are usual required to sign a no-compete clause for a while. And even if he didn't ,why would he want to take another COO job offer when he just resigned from one? I think Chug a Lug Doug and his trustry side kick Scooter will be here long after you and I are gone. Unless of course our new found "friends" back east make good on their threat to run this place into the ground



PHXFLYR

 

[DrewBlows]

Pretty excited to become one w/ the widget.

Gross! I think your coworkers would be pleased if you stuck to flying. :laugh:

 

[GuppyWN]

One with the widget.

Well I thought it sounded pretty cool. I remember the day I became "one with the corndog." Proud day I tell ya.

Congrats Schiphol.

Gup