Robert K. Ortberg Appointed as the New CEO of Boeing

ARLINGTON, Va., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Robert K. "Kelly" Ortberg as the company's new president and chief executive officer, effective August 8, 2024. Ortberg will also serve on Boeing's Board of Directors.

He will succeed Dave Calhoun, who earlier this year announced his intention to retire from the company, having served as president and CEO since January 2020, and as a member of Boeing's Board of Directors since 2009.

A Seasoned Aerospace Leader

Ortberg brings over 35 years of aerospace leadership to this position. He began his career in 1983 as an engineer at Texas Instruments, and then joined Rockwell Collins in 1987 as a program manager and held increasingly important leadership positions at the company prior to becoming its president and CEO in 2013. After five years leading Rockwell Collins, he steered the company's integration with United Technologies and RTX until his retirement from RTX in 2021. He has held a number of important leadership posts in industry, including serving on the Board of Directors of RTX. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Aptiv PLC, a global technology company and an industry leader in vehicle systems architecture. He is the former Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Board of Governors.

Ortberg on His Appointment

"I'm extremely honored and humbled to join this iconic company," said Ortberg. "Boeing has a tremendous and rich history as a leader and pioneer in our industry, and I'm committed to working together with the more than 170,000 dedicated employees of the company to continue that tradition, with safety and quality at the forefront. There is much work to be done, and I'm looking forward to getting started."

Boeing's Challenges and Expectations

The job facing Ortberg is daunting. Boeing reported a bigger quarterly loss and weaker revenue than analysts were expecting during the second quarter. The aerospace giant reported a net loss of $1.44 billion in the second quarter, as increased scrutiny of its production lines has limited production of its bestselling 737 Max jets.

"Despite a challenging quarter, we are making substantial progress strengthening our quality management system and positioning our company for the future," Calhoun said. "While we have more work ahead, the steps we're taking will help stabilize our operations and ensure Boeing is the company the world needs it to be."

Boeing’s board Chair Steve Mollenkopf announced the new CEO in a message to employees.

“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," Mollenkopf wrote. “He 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."

Ortberg's Profile

Ortberg, 64, is just a few years younger than the company’s outgoing leader. Boeing’s board had previously extended its mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70 to allow Calhoun, now 67, to stay on as CEO.

Ortberg’s career in the aviation industry started at Texas Instruments. He joined Rockwell Collins in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become CEO in 2013. He oversaw mergers with United Technology and RTX (formerly Raytheon) before retiring from the company in 2021.

Conclusion

Ortberg, an industry veteran with more than 35 years in the aerospace sector, will take on the role of leading Boeing, one of the world's largest aerospace companies. He brings a wealth of experience and a strong reputation to the position, and his appointment is expected to bring stability and a renewed focus on safety and quality to Boeing.