AP Photo
Kelly Ortberg, CEO and President, Rockwell Collins, speaks at the 14th annual U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Foundation Aviation Summit in downtown Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2014. Photo Credit: Kristoffer Tripplaar/ Sipa USA

Former Rockwell Collins CEO joins list of Boeing CEO candidates

‘Extremely aggressive’ rumor mill churns on Boeing chief executive contest

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Release Date
July 28, 2024
Former Rockwell Collins CEO joins list of possible Boeing CEO candidates

Former Rockwell Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg has emerged as a serious outside contender under consideration by Boeing as its next chief executive, multiple industry officials tell The Air Current.

The Boeing board of directors has not yet voted on a selection, but TAC understands that the company wants to make a decision “sooner than later”. Although the timing remains up in the air, a final choice could come as early as this week with the company’s approaching second quarter results, which are being released on Wednesday, July 31.

Ortberg joins Spirit AeroSystems CEO Pat Shanahan among the final contenders for the role along with Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope, TAC is told.

Over the past week, the aggressiveness of the rumor mill took on a new intensity as the industry’s leaders gathered at the Farnborough International Airshow. Yet, those truly in the know are limited to a tight circle around the company’s chairman, Steve Mollenkopf.

Mollenkopf since February has cast a wide net, soliciting feedback from Boeing staff, customers, suppliers, politicians and the financial community about whom to consider for one of the planet’s top industrial jobs.

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