Marshall snubs stand-down talk

LORD MARSHALL, chairman of British Airways for the past nine years, is standing firm against critics who say the airline should have a succession plan in place.

Marshall, 68, insists he wants to remain at the head of the company until the middle of the decade and shrugged off reports that shareholders, including Standard Life, are growing restless at his decision to go on.

A spokesman said: 'There is no fixed retirement date. Lord Marshall is coming to the end of a three-year term as chairman and will seek reelection for another three-year term at the AGM. After 2005, if he seeks re-election again, that will be done on a year-by-year basis because he will have passed the age of 70.'

Insiders believe BAT chairman Martin Broughton, 54, who has the title of senior independent director on the BA board, is the natural successor. It is thought, though, that Marshall would not be seeking re-election unless he had the full, continuing support of the board.

Chief executive Rod Eddington will on Wednesday announce a radical restructuring of BA through Project Future Size and Shape.