Amid Boeing Co.‘s (NYSE:BA) ongoing CEO search, Stephanie Pope, the internal favorite for the position, has taken the spotlight at the Farnborough International Airshow.
What Happened: Pope, who currently heads Boeing’s commercial airplane unit, has been actively engaging with customers and journalists at the airshow, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. This move has been seen as an attempt to bolster her case for the top job at the embattled aerospace company.
Boeing is currently grappling with a series of crises, including financial instability, and trust issues with regulators and the public. The company’s board is under pressure to appoint a leader who can navigate these challenges.
Despite her background in finance and relatively short tenure in manufacturing, Pope has been endorsed by Calhoun as his natural successor. Her proactive approach at the airshow, including meeting with customers to address their concerns about delayed aircraft deliveries, has been well-received.
"I'm impressed with her, I think she's a quick learner," said John Plueger, the CEO of Air Lease Corp.
"I'll restate that 24/7 I'm focused on the BCA recovery," Pope said. BCA is an acronym for Boeing's commercial airplane business. "That is my priority and that is my focus."
Pat Shanahan, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SPR), and a former Boeing executive is a leading candidate as the planemaker looks to consolidate its former aerostructures division. According to the report, directors have been intently reviewing other external candidates as well.
Price Action: Boeing stock closed at $184.35 on Thursday, up 2.38% for the day. In pre-market trading, the stock rose 0.46%. However, the stock is down $67.41, or 26.78%, year to date, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
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