Boeing Brings James McNerney Aboard

Interim president and CEO James Bell will return to his position as chief financial officer for the aviation company.

In Chicago, the Boeing board of directors elected W. James McNerney, Jr to be the company’s new CEO, president, and chairman of the board.

“Boeing’s businesses are performing very well, and the board sought a CEO with the experience and credentials necessary to sustain that momentum and take the company to the next level,” lead director Lewis Platt said.

“Jim met all the board’s criteria. He is, in the unanimous judgment of our board members, the ideal person to lead Boeing.”

Mr. McNerney has served as 3M’s chairman and CEO since January 2001, so he is no stranger to the workings atop a Dow Jones Industrial component corporation.

He also share a General Electric heritage with outgoing CEO Harry Stonecipher. GE’s management and leadership training have a gold-standard reputation in the corporate world.

Boeing already had GE links, as it is a significant purchaser of engines from GE’s Aircraft Engines unit. Mr. McNerney formerly ran that unit during his tenure with GE.

Recently, Boeing wrapped up a successful visit to the biennial Paris Air Show. The company received orders for 146 of its aircraft during the festivities at Le Bourget, including an order for 20 737s from GE Commercial Aviation Services, a plane leasing company formerly run by Mr. McNerney as well.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.