As Boeing's current CEO Dave Calhoun is set to leave by the end of the year, the aviation industry has been left pondering who will take the helm of the American OEM. As the board hunts for its newest leader, speculation has mulled over the possibility of its commercial airplanes business CEO Stephanie Pope to take the lead while some have looked to Pat Shanahan, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems - Boeing's main supplier for its fuselage and was recently reacquired by the company in early July.
However, a report from The Air Current on July 28, 2024, has claimed former Rockwell Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg is frontrunning contender, citing industry officials.
Boeing did not yet provide a timely response upon request for comment. Similarly, at a closed media event in London on July 21, Pope evaded comment on leadership speculation. Though, she added that she would adapt to whatever was needed for the company. The report said the leadership announcement would come ""sooner or later"". With Boeing's second quarter results due to be published on July 31, there may be further information on the leadership developments.
Rockwell Collins now operates as part of Collins Aerospace - a subsidiary of RTX - and provides avionics and information technology services to both commercial aircraft manufacturers as well as government agencies.
Former Rockwell Collins CEO a contender for next Boeing CEO, report claims
