Hope for Boeing? Company names new CEO with engineering background and plans to work out of Seattle

Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2024, 01:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Is embattled aerospace giant Boeing finally getting competent leadership that will work constructively with its customers and workers to build quality airplanes and rocketships? The jury may still be out on that question, but today’s announcement that Robert “Kelly” Ortberg will be taking over from Dave Calhoun as Boeing’s new CEO is encouraging.

Ortberg, sixty-four, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and he appears to understand the importance of quality assurance and accountability. According to Reuters, Ortberg “began his career as an engineer at semiconductor maker Texas Instruments before moving to aircraft electronics supplier Rockwell Collins as a program manager and holding key leadership roles at the company prior to becoming its CEO in 2013. He steered the company’s merger with United Technologies and RTX until his retirement in 2021.”

While at Rockwell Collins, Ortberg was involved in the 787 Dreamliner program in a supplier role, so he has familiarity with Boeing and its plethora of challenges.

“The Board conducted a thorough and extensive search process over the last several months to select the next CEO of Boeing and Kelly has the right skills and experience to lead Boeing in its next chapter,” said Steven Mollenkopf, Chair of Boeing’s Board of Directors. “Kelly is an experienced leader who is deeply respected in the aerospace industry, with a well-earned reputation for building strong teams and running complex engineering and manufacturing companies. We look forward to working with him as he leads Boeing through this consequential period in its long history.”

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/07/hope-for-boeing-company-names-new-ceo-with-engineering-background-and-plans-to-work-out-of-seattle.html

At least he's a not marketing asshole who prioritizes sales over safety.