CHICAGO, Oct. 20 (UPI) — United Airlines on Monday appointed Brett J. Hart as acting CEO after confirming President and CEO Oscar Munoz was on medical leave due to a heart attack.
Munoz had the heart attack on Thursday. The board of directors for United Continental Holdings, Inc., owner of the airline, made the decision to promote Hart as acting CEO over the uncertainty of Munoz’ condition.
“At this time, it is too soon to know the course of treatment and timing of recovery,”United Airlines said in a statement.
The airline was previously coy about its plans and Munoz’s state.
Hart said he hopes to increase shareholder value by using Munoz’s agenda. Munoz, 56, had been on the job as United’s top executive for a little more than a month when he had the heart attack.
“Oscar’s agenda is focused on customer service, teamwork and innovation and I, along with the executive team, will continue to move quickly to implement it,” Hart said in a statement. “We believe strongly that we can continue to make steady progress on increasing shareholder value by working together to deliver a great product to our customers.”
