Boeing CEO to Exit in Broad Management Shakeup

Boeing CEO David Calhoun will step down from the embattled plane maker at the end of the year as part of a broad management shakeup Monday after a series of mishaps at one of America's iconic manufacturers.
Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes unit, will retire immediately. Stephanie Pope, the company's chief operating officer for less than three months, has taken over leadership of the key division.
The company said board Chairman Lawrence Kellner, a former airline chief, won't stand for re-election in May and will be replaced by a former Qualcomm CEO.
Boeing has been under intense pressure since early January, when a panel blew off a brand-new Alaska Airlines 737 Max. Investigators say bolts that help keep the panel in place were missing after repair work at the Boeing factory.
The Federal Aviation Administration has stepped up its scrutiny of the company, including putting a limit on production of 737s. An FAA audit of Boeing's 737 factory near Seattle gave the company failing grades on nearly three dozen aspects of production.
Airline executives have expressed their frustration with the company, and even minor incidents involving Boeing jets have attracted extra attention.
Fallout from the Jan. 5 blowout has raised scrutiny of Boeing to its highest level since two Boeing 737 Max jets crashed in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia. In all, the crashes killed 346 people.
In a note Monday to employees, Calhoun, 67, called the accident “a watershed moment for Boeing" that requires ”a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company."
“The eyes of the world are on us, and I know we will come through this moment a better company, building on all the learnings we accumulated as we worked together to rebuild Boeing over the last number of years,” he said.
Boeing’s most significant effort to improve quality has been the opening of discussions about bringing Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages for the Max and many parts for that and other Boeing planes, back into the company.
Mistakes made at Spirit, which Boeing spun off nearly 20 years ago, have compounded the company's problems. Bringing the work of key supplier Spirit back in-house would, in theory, give Boeing more control over the quality of manufacturing key airplane components.
Calhoun said the two companies are making progress in talks “and it’s very important.”
Calhoun said the decision to leave was his. Calhoun was a Boeing director when he became CEO in January 2020, replacing Dennis Muilenburg, who was fired in the aftermath of the Max crashes. In 2021, Boeing's board raised the mandatory retirement age for CEO to keep Calhoun in the job.
The company has chosen former Qualcomm CEO Steven Mollenkopf to become the new board chairman and to lead the search for Calhoun’s replacement.
The growing pressure on Boeing took some of the surprise out of Monday’s news. Citi analyst Jason Gursky called the shakeup “both predictable and thoughtful.”
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Indonesia Airlines CEO: 'Our Airline Is Real and It’s Taking Off Soon'
Indonesia Airlines defies 'hoax' claim by regulator, pushes ahead with launch by year-end backed by global investors.Indonesia Revives Boeing-Garuda Deal Amid Tariff Talks
Indonesia’s Danantara reopens talks with Boeing to revive a stalled deal with Garuda as Jakarta seeks closer US trade ties.Boeing to Build US Next Generation Fighter Jet Named F-47
The Pentagon is still struggling to fully produce its current advanced jet, the F-35, which is expected to cost more than $1.7 trillion.Death Toll in South Korean Plane Crash Rises to 124
Emergency officials in Muan said the plane’s landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned.The Latest
Indonesia Introduces AI and Coding to 59,000 Schools Nationwide
Indonesia rolls out AI and coding as elective subjects in 59,000 schools, aiming to prepare students for the digital future."I Realized I Was Alive": Survivor Speaks After Air India Dreamliner Crash
A lone survivor recounts escaping the Air India crash that killed 241 people. Investigators recover the black box as probe intensifies.Dental Issues Top List in Indonesia’s Mass Health Screenings, Minister Says
Indonesia’s free health check program finds dental issues most common, ahead of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, health minister says.AVC Nations Cup: Indonesia Defeats Hong Kong, Eyes Top-Five Finish
Indonesia’s women’s volleyball team beat Hong Kong 3-1 at the AVC Nations Cup in Hanoi to advance in the battle for fifth place.Bali, Jakarta Explore $20B Subway Collaboration to Ease Island Traffic
Bali and Jakarta officials met to discuss plans for the island’s first MRT system, with underground tracks proposed to respect local customsMost Popular
