Marshall 'said no to Amex job'

SIR COLIN MARSHALL, chief executive and chairman-designate of British Airways, was approached to take over at American Express, it emerged yesterday, writes Michael Harrison.

BA said last night there was 'no truth' in a report in the New York Times suggesting that Sir Colin dropped out of contention only at the last minute because of the scandal over the dirty tricks campaign against Virgin Atlantic.

The report said that Sir Colin was approached by a firm of headhunters acting on behalf of a search committee made up of Amex board members and offered the chief executive's job.

However, some time before last Monday's Amex board meeting he either withdrew or lost the support of the committee, according to the paper's sources.

Industry sources said Sir Colin had been approached last year but made it clear there were no circumstances under which he would leave BA.

The job went to Harvey Golub, an internal candidate.