Alden Retires From Hughes Aircraft Posts

Richard F. Alden, Hughes Aircraft vice chairman and general counsel, has retired. A Hughes internal announcement indicated that Alden “elected to retire under the provisions of the Hughes retirement plan.”

The announcement quoted Hughes Chairman Albert Wheelon as saying that “a successor will be named soon.” Michael Smith, chief financial officer, will take over Alden’s duties until a successor is named, the internal management announcement said.

Alden, 63, was elected vice chairman in 1985, just prior to the acquisition of Hughes by General Motors from the previous sole owner, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Before joining the executive staff of Hughes, however, Alden had served for nine years as Hughes general counsel as a senior parter of Latham & Watkins, the Los Angeles law firm that had long represented Hughes Aircraft.

Alden’s role was as the primary intermediary between Hughes Aircraft and the medical institute, which was controlled by Bill Gay and Chester C. Davis, two lieutenants of Howard Hughes. Hughes died in 1976. A suit by the state of Delaware eventually forced Gay to relinquish control of the institute after Davis had died.

Hughes Aircraft Vice President Lee Pitt said: “Alden is going to remain to assist with any transition until June 1.”