Delta names airline industry veteran Anderson as CEO

NEW YORK (AFP) - Delta Air Lines said yesterday its board had elected industry veteran Richard Anderson as chief executive officer, succeeding retiring Gerald Grinstein who brought the carrier out of bankruptcy.

Anderson, 52, will take over September 1 at Delta, the third-largest US carrier which emerged from creditor protection April 30.

"After a thorough search, the board concluded that Richard Anderson possesses the right blend of seasoned leadership, strategic skills, international experience and airline knowledge the company needs to navigate the industry's challenges and capitalize on its opportunities," said Daniel Carp, chairman of Delta's board.

Anderson has nearly 20 years of airline industry experience and will become the eighth CEO in Delta's 78-year history, the company said.

A current member of Delta's board, Anderson has held key posts at several major US corporations. He was executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, chief executive of Northwest Airlines, and was vice president and deputy general counsel at Continental Airlines.

"With a solid strategy in place that provides a dynamic platform for future growth and success, I look forward to working side by side with Delta professionals to make Delta an undisputed leader in customer service, operational performance and financial strength and stability," Anderson said in a statement.

"In the coming weeks, I will spend the majority of my time listening to Delta people to learn how we can further improve the customer experience and position our company as an even better place to work."

Delta exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 19 months of court-supervised bankruptcy protection, with the airline industry rocked by a slump in travel following the September 2001 terror attacks.