The Boeing board has elected Steve Mollenkopf as independent board chair to lead the process of selecting next CEO and Stephanie Pope has been appointed to lead BCA with immediate effect.
Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun has announced his decision to step down as CEO at the end of 2024, while continuing to lead Boeing through the remainder of the year to complete crucial ongoing initiatives aimed at stabilizing and positioning the company for future success. In conjunction with Calhoun’s decision, Board Chair Larry Kellner has indicated that he will not seek re-election at the upcoming Annual Shareholder meeting. The board has elected Steve Mollenkopf to succeed Kellner as independent board chair. Mollenkopf will lead the board’s process of selecting Boeing’s next CEO.
Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), will retire from the company, and Stephanie Pope has been appointed to lead BCA with immediate effect.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve Boeing,” said Dave Calhoun President and CEO, Boeing. “The eyes of the world are on us, and I know that we will come through this moment a better company. We will remain squarely focused on completing the work we have done together to return our company to stability after the extraordinary challenges of the past five years, with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do,” he further added.
Kellner, who has been a member of the Boeing Board for 13 years and served as its chair since late 2019, oversaw significant developments during his tenure, including the establishment of a new board aerospace safety committee and the recruitment of several new independent directors with expertise in engineering, safety, manufacturing, and aerospace.
“Boeing plays an essential role in our world, and serving this company, and our people, has been a true honor,” said Larry Kellner, Board Chair, Boeing. “After over a decade on the board and several years as its chair, I have been considering the right time for a transition of leadership on our board, and have been discussing that subject with Dave and the board in conjunction with Dave’s own planning about his succession timeframe. I want to thank Dave for his tremendous leadership of our company, and I know he will finish the job this year that he started in 2020 to position Boeing, and our employees, for a stronger future. With Dave’s decision to step down as CEO at the end of this year, now is the right time for a transition to my successor. Steve is the ideal next leader to take on the role of board chair, and it is important that the CEO selection process be led by a new chair who will stay at the helm as a partner to the new CEO. With a strong board, an excellent management team and 170,000 dedicated Boeing employees, I am fully confident in our company’s future,” he further added.
Pope, who has been serving as chief operating officer of Boeing since January of this year, brings a wealth of experience to her new role as President and CEO of Commercial Airplanes. She previously held leadership positions within Boeing, including president and chief executive officer of Boeing Global Services and chief financial officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“I am honored and humbled to step into this new role,” said Mollenkopf, independent board chair, Boeing. “I am fully confident in this company and its leadership – and together we are committed to taking the right actions to strengthen safety and quality, and to meet the needs of our customers. I also want to thank both Larry and Dave for their exceptional stewardship of Boeing during a challenging and consequential time for Boeing and the aerospace industry,” he further added.
Boeing, a leading global aerospace company, develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers worldwide. The company emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and community impact, guided by its core values of safety, quality, and integrity.
Boeing’s decision to transition leadership at the end of 2024 comes amid a period of significant challenges and transformation for the company. Calhoun’s leadership during this time has been focused on stabilizing Boeing’s operations, addressing safety and quality concerns, and positioning the company for long-term success.
Under Calhoun’s leadership, Boeing has made progress in addressing the issues stemming from the 737 MAX crisis, improving safety protocols, and enhancing transparency and accountability across the organization. Calhoun’s decision to step down as CEO at the end of the year reflects his confidence in the company’s trajectory and his belief that Boeing is well-positioned for the future.
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As Boeing transitions to new leadership, the company remains focused on its core mission of delivering safe, reliable, and innovative aerospace solutions to its customers around the world. With a strong leadership team in place, including incoming CEO Stephanie Pope, Boeing is poised to continue driving innovation, advancing sustainability, and shaping the future of flight for years to come.
