Boeing's CEO, Dave Calhoun, announces plans to step down by year-end
amidst a management overhaul prompted by the company's ongoing safety
crisis. This shakeup follows a mid-air panel blowout incident on a 737 MAX plane in January.
In addition to Calhoun, board chair Larry Kellner and Stan Deal, head
of Boeing's commercial planes business, are also departing. The move
aims to address the myriad issues eroding confidence in the aviation giant.
Calhoun, who took over after fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, faced
mounting challenges, including production delays and quality concerns.
Despite initial support from airline executives, Boeing's share value
plummeted following the January incident.
As investigations continue, Michael O'Leary of Ryanair welcomes the
management changes, calling them beneficial for Boeing's customers. COO
Stephanie Pope steps up to lead Boeing Commercial Airplanes, while Steve
Mollenkopf takes over as board chair and leads the CEO search.
Regulatory scrutiny revealed management lapses, prompting concerns
about Boeing's culture. Analysts view the shakeup positively but stress
the importance of cultural change and a capable successor.
Workers' representatives advocate for a stronger voice in management,
emphasizing the need for worker representation at the highest
decision-making levels. Airlines like United and Delta express support
during the leadership transition.
Amid speculation about Calhoun's successor, attention turns to
Patrick Shanahan of Spirit AeroSystems. Shanahan remains focused on
safety amidst his company's ongoing ties with Boeing.