Caledonian Chief Quits

Sir Adam Thomson, chairman and chief executive of British Caledonian Group PLC, has resigned in a move related to the airline’s takeover by its larger rival British Airways PLC, Caledonian said.

Three other members of Caledonian’s board of directors resigned along with Thomson.

In December, British Airways beat out Scandinavian Airline System in a protracted takeover battle for Caledonian. British Airways’ offer put a value on Caledonian of 250 million British pounds, or about $440 million at current exchange rates.

Thomson, a former pilot, previously had said he didn’t expect to stay on at Caledonian following the merger. The four resignations were “procedural, as part of the merger arrangement,” said a Caledonian spokesman, who wasn’t identified in accordance with British practice.

British Airways, the country’s flagship carrier, which was recently privatized by the British government, is expected to complete its merger with Caledonian about mid-March.

The others resigning were: Trevor Boud, executive vice chairman and financial director; Alastair Pugh, executive vice chairman and director of strategy, and David Coltman, managing director of subsidiary British Caledonian Airways Ltd.