Boeing announced that its Board of Directors has named current Chairman, David L. Calhoun (photo), as Chief Executive Officer and President, effective January 13, 2020.
Mr. Calhoun will remain a member of the Board. In addition, Board member Lawrence W. Kellner will become non-executive Chairman of the Board effective immediately.
The Company also announced that Dennis A. Muilenburg has resigned from his positions as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director effective immediately. Boeing Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith will serve as interim CEO during the brief transition period, while Mr. Calhoun exits his non-Boeing commitments.
The Board of Directors decided that a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the Company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders.
Under the Company’s new leadership, Boeing will operate with a renewed commitment to full transparency, including effective and proactive communication with the FAA, other global regulators and its customers.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I am pleased that Dave has agreed to lead Boeing at this critical juncture. Dave has deep industry experience and a proven track record of strong leadership, and he recognizes the challenges we must confront. The Board and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the Boeing team to ensure that today marks a new way forward for our company,” Mr. Kellner said.
Mr. Calhoun said: “I strongly believe in the future of Boeing and the 737 MAX. I am honored to lead this great company and the 150,000 dedicated employees who are working hard to create the future of aviation.”
Boeing also named Niel Golightly as the company’s Senior Vice President of Communications, effective January 1, 2020. He succeeds Anne Toulouse, who previously announced her plans to retire in early 2020.
Golightly, 61, will report to interim CEO Greg Smith initially, and then to President and CEO David Calhoun from January 13 onward. Golightly will serve on the company’s executive council and be based in Chicago.
Golightly joins Boeing from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), where since 2018 he served as Global Chief Communications Officer. In that role he was responsible for developing and implementing FCA’s overarching corporate communications strategy, overseeing media relations, leadership and employee communications, and working alongside the company’s CEO and leadership team.
Golightly has 25 years of communications and strategy experience, holding leadership roles with a number of large, global industrial companies including FCA, Royal Dutch Shell and Ford Motor Company. Prior to his corporate experience, Golightly served for 14 years in the U.S. Navy, including as a fighter pilot and as speechwriter to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Cornell University and later studied at the University of Konstanz in Germany as a Navy Olmsted Scholar.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base.
Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
