Boeing Names Kelly Ortberg as New CEO Amid Critical Period

5 months ago Editor

Kelly Ortberg, former CEO of Rockwell Collins, will lead Boeing starting August 8, bringing over 35 years of aerospace experience to navigate the company through its current challenges.

Kelly Ortberg, former president and CEO of Rockwell Collins, will step into the role of Boeing‘s new president and CEO on August 8, replacing the retiring Dave Calhoun. With over 35 years in the aerospace industry, Ortberg is expected to lead Boeing through a significant and challenging period.

Ortberg, 64, brings extensive experience from his previous leadership roles, including his time at Rockwell Collins and his involvement in its integration with United Technologies and RTX. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and has held various influential positions in the aerospace sector, including serving as the chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) board of governors.

Steven Mollenkopf, chair of Boeing’s board, emphasized Ortberg’s qualifications, stating that the board conducted a comprehensive search and found Ortberg to be the ideal candidate to guide Boeing through its next chapter. Mollenkopf highlighted Ortberg’s respected reputation in the aerospace industry for building strong teams and managing complex engineering and manufacturing companies.

The board also acknowledged Dave Calhoun’s contributions, particularly during a tumultuous period for Boeing. Under Calhoun’s leadership, the company faced significant challenges following the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the grounding of the aircraft by the FAA. Boeing has since worked to address and resolve these issues, making changes to its manufacturing processes to enhance safety and reliability.

Despite these efforts, Boeing recently faced another setback in January when a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines experienced a door plug loss shortly after takeoff, causing rapid decompression and minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to investigate this incident next week.

Families of the victims of the 737 Max crashes continue to seek justice, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to impose a $24 billion fine on Boeing for alleged criminal negligence and violations of a previous agreement that helped the company avoid criminal charges.