Chrysler Names John Neff to Board Over Candidate Backed by Kerkorian

Chrysler Corp., in a rebuff to billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, said Wednesday it named John Neff, a former managing director of Wellington Management Co., to fill the board seat vacated by former Kmart Corp. Chief Executive Joseph Antonini late last year.

Kerkorian, through his Tracinda Corp. investment company, had asked that his top strategist, former Chrysler Chief Financial Officer Jerome York, be named to the board in place of Antonini.

Chrysler, in a statement, said it is continuing its corporate governance review initiated after Kerkorian proposed several changes to the auto maker’s bylaws.