Delta Air Lines Adds Maria Black and Willie CW Chiang to Board

By Bobby Samwell • Saturday, April 27 11:02 • Permanent Link

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has announced the appointment of Maria Black and Willie CW Chiang to its board of directors. Ms. Black, the President and CEO of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADP), brings substantial global leadership in technology and human capital management to Delta. On the other hand, Mr. Chiang, the Chairman and CEO of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NASDAQ:PAA), possesses extensive experience in the energy industry.

Ms. Black's appointment comes on the heels of her tenure as President of ADP from January 2022 to January 2023 and various roles across ADP's global portfolio since joining the company in 1996. Mr. Chiang, who has been serving as the CEO of PAA and PAGP since October 2018, has a career spanning various leadership positions at major energy companies.

Delta's non-executive Chair of the Board, David Taylor, expressed excitement about the new appointments, highlighting the valuable expertise both individuals bring to the board. The additions of Ms. Black and Mr. Chiang are aimed at enhancing the depth and range of Delta's already strong, independent, and diverse board of directors.

The new appointments are expected to bring fresh perspectives and insights to Delta's board, further strengthening the airline's leadership and governance.

Delta Air Lines' stock is currently trading at $45.67, with a market capitalization of $30.45 billion. In the last fiscal year, the company reported a revenue of $47.55 billion, reflecting a 17% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, Delta's net income saw a substantial rise of 74% year-over-year, reaching $3.12 billion.

The airline's operating margin also improved, standing at 11.2% compared to the previous year's 7.8%. Additionally, Delta's return on equity (ROE) witnessed a significant growth, reaching 24.6%, up from 16.9% in the previous fiscal period.

As the aviation industry continues to navigate through the challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic, Delta Air Lines appears to be strategically strengthening its governance with the appointment of industry leaders like Maria Black and Willie CW Chiang to its board of directors. Today the company's shares have moved 0.1% to a price of $49.92. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.

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