CEO says departure planned

Thursday, May 2, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

CHICAGO -- United Airlines' short-term chief executive told employees Wednesday his seemingly abrupt departure announcement was the plan all along, hoping to assuage concern about a change at the helm of the nation's second-largest carrier.

United's statement that it's looking for a successor to Jack Creighton after just six months as chairman and CEO initially rattled investors and prompted speculation about the struggling airline's condition. Shares in United parent UAL Corp. sank 6 percent before recovering to finish down 39 cents, or 2.8 percent, at $13.70 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Creighton, the former head of Weyerhaeuser Co. who turns 70 in September, told United employees by voice mail that while Tuesday's announcement might have seemed sudden, "my tenure as your CEO was always intended to be short-term."

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