Activist investors ask United Airlines to change chairman before shareholder vote

The two hedge funds that have launched a boardroom fight with United Continental Holdings Tuesday called on the airline to immediately appoint 1 of its 2 new board members as chairman, according to a regulatory filing. The funds asked that either James Whitehurst, former COO of Delta Air Lines, or Robert Milton, former CE of Air Canada, be appointed chairman before shareholders vote on a slate of 6 other directors that the funds proposed 2 weeks ago, the filing said. The funds, PAR Capital Management and Altimeter Capital Management, had called United's board "underqualified" because it lacked what they considered experienced airline executives until the carrier appointed Whitehurst and Milton March 7. <br/>