After forcing companies to make numerous CEO changes in his career, Carl Icahn is about to create one of his own.
The activist investor said he was a former General Electric Co. manager. to become CEO of his company, which houses both his investment fund and a collection of businesses he manages.
Aris Kekedjian, a 30-year GE veteran who was chief investment officer of the industrial conglomerate until 2019, will be named chief executive and chief operating officer of Icahn Enterprises LP on Monday, Mr. Icahn said in an interview.
Two longtime Icahn lieutenants – current CEO Keith Cozza and Chief Financial Officer SungHwan Cho – are leaving the company. Mr. Icahn, who hired them in 2004 and 2006 respectively, commended their contributions and said they are leaving on excellent terms. One factor in the decision was that neither planned to relocate to the Miami area, where Mr. Icahn and his company recently relocated.
The company is in the process of hiring a new Chief Financial Officer, who will be appointed at a later date.