By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Delta Air Lines on Tuesday underwent a major shakeup at the top, creating a new leadership team in hopes of pulling out of its financial tailspin and stabilizing its executive ranks.

Gerald Grinstein, who has been the Atlanta-based carrier's chief executive officer only since Jan. 1, appointed seven vice presidents to top positions. He named all of them "chief officers" for different areas, including customer service, finance, operations, marketing, network and planning, and human relations.

"The intent is pretty clear that now each area has become a priority," said Joe Kolshak, who takes over as senior vice president and chief of operations.

Kolshak also will oversee Delta Connection Inc., the subsidiary that controls the airline's regional network that includes Erlanger-based subsidiary Comair.

The news comes as Delta continues to bleed badly - it lost $383 million in the first quarter and has lost more than $3 billion in the last three years. Delta operates its second-largest hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, where it employs nearly 8,000 along with Comair.

In addition, several top officers left the airline since the beginning of the year, including former CEO and chairman Leo Mullin, former president and chief operating officer Fred Reid, former chief financial officer Michele Burns, and the airline's general counsel and top corporate communications executive.

The continued bad financial news and an impasse with the pilots' union over pay cuts that the airline says are needed to cut losses have forced Delta to publicly acknowledge that bankruptcy could become an option.

Grinstein didn't name a No. 2.

"We are all a team of equals," said Kolshak, 47, who is also a Boeing 757/767 captain and was formerly Delta's vice president for flight operations. "That was the intent, that we would all work together well and that teamwork would be a huge part of this.

"We certainly hope this helps morale," Kolshak continued. "There is always uncertainty around changes in leadership. Jerry came in and everyone was waiting for something to happen next. This finally fills the vacuum left by the other departures."

The other moves include:

• Moving chief marketing officer Vicki Escarra, 51, over to become senior vice president and chief customer service officer.

• Naming former senior vice president of international and alliances Paul Matsen, 44, as chief marketing officer.

• Naming Jim Whitehurst, 36, as senior vice president and chief network and planning officer. He was formerly senior vice president for finance.

• Appointing Greg Riggs, 56, senior vice president, general counsel, and chief corporate affairs officer.

• Naming Lee Macenczak, 42, as senior vice president and human relations officer.

The team also includes executive vice president and chief financial officer Mike Palumbo, 57, who was appointed earlier this spring.

Shares in Delta closed at $5.15, up 23 cents.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com