<p>Two top executives at United Parcel Service Inc. are retiring from the worlds largest shipping carrier, the company said Thursday.</p><p>The announcement regarding Thomas H. Weidemeyer, chief operating officer and president of UPS Airlines, and Joseph R. Moderow, general counsel, corporate secretary and head of global public affairs and public relations, was made at the Atlanta-based companys directors meeting in Mahwah, N.J.</p><p>The two executives retirements take effect at the end of next month. However, both spent their careers at UPS and have worked there more than 30 years.</p><p>Weidemeyer and Moderow also serve on the UPS board of directors as well as the UPS Management Committee, the senior management group responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. Spokesman Norm Black said the two men would likely step down from the board as well, but he could not say when. Their one-year board terms run out next spring. They are leaving the management committee, Black said.</p><p>The company said the two executives did not say why they are retiring.</p><p>Named to succeed Weidemeyer as chief operating officer and president of UPS Airlines is John Beystehner, a 32-year company veteran who currently serves as senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. Replacing Moderow as general counsel and corporate secretary will be Allen Hill, a 27-year UPS employee who is currently vice president heading the companys legal department.</p><p>Succeeding Beystehner as senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing will be Kurt Kuehn, currently vice president in charge of investor relations.</p><p>Hill and Kuehn were elected senior vice presidents by the UPS board and will become the newest members of the UPS Management Committee effective Jan. 1.</p><p>Shares of UPS closed down 2 cents at $72.81 in trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x28659f8)</p>
