Kelly Ortberg appointed new Boeing CEO, says 'much work to be done'

Kelly Ortberg, an aviation veteran has over 35 years of experience. (Reuters file photo)

Aviation giant Boeing appointed Kelly Ortberg as the new CEO on July 31st. In his first statement after the announcement, Ortberg said that 'there is much work to be done.' The aerospace industry veteran will have a tough task at hand. From reviving Boeing's jet production to make a solid effort in narrowing the trust deficit with the regulators, Ortberg's next few months will be extremely challenging.

We’re pleased to announce Kelly Ortberg as Boeing’s new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Details here: https://t.co/qLYPKYHmLx pic.twitter.com/WnP33PTftK

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— The Boeing Company (@Boeing) July 31, 2024

"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," Ortberg said in his first statement as the planemaker's CEO.

Boeing's turbulent times

One of two global planemaking giants, Boeing has been embroiled in multitude of issues. First, there's this reputational crisis due to poor performance. Underlining the grave financial strain, the company posted a $1.4 billion quarterly loss. The January 5 incident tarnished the reputation of the aviation giant that ultimately led to resignation of the then CEO Dave Calhoun.

Soon after the January 5 incident, the US Federal Aviation Administration had announced that it was barring Boeing from expanding production of 737 MAX. As per a Reuters reoport, Boeing's shares rose 2.9% in premarket trading.