Sept. 14--Jeff Smisek, the former CEO of United Airlines who was ousted last week amid a federal investigation, has resigned from the board of directors of National Oilwell Varco, a Houston oil drilling equipment maker that Smisek helped govern for 17 years.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Oilwell on Monday said Smisek submitted a letter of resignation on Wednesday, the day after he resigned as CEO of Chicago-based United.
Smisek, 61, quit unexpectedly after Labor Day weekend.
United, Chicago's largest private-sector employer, publicly linked his ouster and the firing of two of his top lieutenants to internal and federal investigations involving allegedly improperly currying favor with former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman David Samson. United reinstated a money-losing route from Newark to an airport near Samson's South Carolina vacation home.
Smisek's resignation at National Oilwell was required to be submitted by the board's rules, which mandate that directors submit a letter of resignation when the director resigns from his or her "principal current employment," according to the filing.
"The company sincerely appreciates Mr. Smisek's contributions to the board of directors and would like to thank Mr. Smisek for his 17 years of leadership," the company said in the filing.
gkarp@tribpub.com
