NEW YORK (AP) — American International Group Inc. yesterday said its chairman and chief executive plans to step down when a search for replacements is complete. The company also said its board agreed with a recommendation from Edward Liddy, who took over the insurer in September, to separate the chairman and CEO roles.

AIG will start a search for permanent leadership after the company's annual shareholder meeting June 30. At that meeting, investors will vote on a slate of six new independent directors. Shareholders will also vote on a company proposal for a reverse stock split of the company's outstanding common stock at a ratio of 1 for 20, according to a regulatory filing. The plan to split the chairman and CEO comes as AIG's corporate governance practices continue to receive intense scrutiny, after it paid out millions in bonuses despite a huge bailout from taxpayers.

AIG has received $182.5 billion in financial support from the government since September. As part of the loan package, the government has also taken a roughly 80 percent stake in the huge insurance company.

The company said the search for new leadership will include participation by both the reconstituted board and the trustees of the AIG Credit Facility Trust, which was established to represent government interests in the company. Liddy, former CEO of Allstate Corp., was named chairman and chief executive on September 18, in connection with the federal bailout. He succeeded Robert Willumstad, who was chairman since November 2006 and held the CEO spot since June.