"It is important that Bob keeps his deal," said Sumner Redstone, the 83-year-old chairman of Paramount's corporate parent, Viacom, and a close friend of the producer.

Unions have never been very popular with Mr. Smith, who is now chairman of Fedex's parent, the FDX Corporation.

The machinists blame Frank Lorenzo, the chairman of Eastern's parent, the Texas Air Corporation, for repair delays.

He succeeds Dean L. Buntrock, who will remain the chairman and chief executive of Chemical Waste's parent, Waste Management Inc.

(Rupert Murdoch, the globe-trotting chairman of Fox's parent, the News Corporation, has a Gulfstream 3 of his own.)

The unions are adamant that Frank Lorenzo, the chairman of Eastern's parent, play no role in the transition.

After all, Mr. Zetsche, a 52-year-old engineer, had just been promoted to chairman of Chrysler's parent, DaimlerChrysler, arguably the most prestigious post in corporate Germany.

Mr. Zarb, the chairman of Nasdaq's parent, the National Association of Securities Dealers, wanted nothing less.

The chairman and president of Toshiba Machine's parent, Toshiba Corporation, have resigned.

Richard D. Parsons, the chairman of its parent, Time Warner, has noticed.