MR David Kennedy, the former managing director of Aer Lingus, is one of three board members appointed to run the troubled US airline TWA. It is an interim measure pending the appointment of a new chief executive.
Mr Kennedy (58) was chief executive of Aer Lingus from 1974 to 1988 and worked at Aer Lingus for a total of 26 years. He was appointed to the board of TWA last November.
He has been appointed acting executive vice president and chief operating officer of TWA with responsibility for long term marketing, planning and operation of the airline. Another director Mr Gerald Gitner was appointed vice chairman and acting chief executive officer while a third board member Mr William Compton was appointed acting executive vice president with responsibility for day to day airline operations.
Last night Mr Kennedy emphasised that his executive appointment was an interim measure. Asked what interim meant a TWA spokesman said "it means not permanent but no time scale has been set. We are actively searching for a chief executive officer and president".
TWA described the three new executive appointments as "a seasoned transition team that will maintain the progress we have made to build a strong and profitable TWA".
In December, TWA said the interim appointment was made because, while several candidates were under active consideration for the top job, "it has become apparent that the recruitment process may continue longer than we had originally hoped".
The appointments follow the resignation of former CEO Mr Jeff Erickson in November. Mr Erickson had remained in place while the company searched for his replacement but could not stay after November. TWA said it hoped to appoint a new CEO early in 1997.
The airline, which will report results for 1996 in the next few weeks, has been through a difficult financial period and many changes in top management. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 1992 but came out of protection in November 1993. In 1995 the company had a second major financial restructuring. Its share price has fallen from $23 after the second restructuring to about $6.
