Boeing is facing immense pressure to bring fresh leadership to steer the embattled planemaker out of its escalating crises. 

With mounting pressure from airlines, regulators, and investors, Boeing announced a broader-than-expected leadership shakeup on Monday, with CEO Dave Calhoun stepping down by year’s end, alongside the departure of the commercial planes chief Stan Deal and chairman Larry Kellner.

The U.S. ​planemaker ​​has ​been grappling ​with ​​a ​growing crisis ​following ​a ​​January mid​-​air ​panel ​blowout ​on ​a ​737 ​MAX ​plane​, ​further ​compounding ​the ​company’s ​woes​.

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• Boeing’s board seeks an outsider CEO to tackle mounting crises.

• Potential candidates include GE’s Larry Culp and ex-Boeing executive Pat Shanahan.

• The ​new ​CEO ​faces ​​the ​daunting ​tasks ​of ​restoring ​​safety ​culture ​and ​regaining ​trust​​​.

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Boeing Seeks Outsides CEO Hire to Tackle Mounting Crises

The ​new ​CEO ​will ​face ​a ​daunting ​array ​of ​tasks​, ​including ​improving ​the company’s ​safety ​culture​, ​addressing quality ​issues​, ​and ​regaining the ​trust ​of ​regulators, ​customers​, ​and ​the ​public​.​

​Moreover​, Boeing ​will ​have ​to deliver ​on ​​its goals ​to ​ramp up ​production ​and ​boost ​cash ​flow ​as ​it ​tries ​to ​reduce debt ​and ​makeup ​ground ​against ​its ​European rival​, Airbus​​​. 

​The ​​Search for ​an ​Outside ​Savior​​

​The company’s ​recent ​leadership ​moves​, including ​Stephanie ​Pope’s appointment ​as ​head ​of ​the ​commercial airplanes ​division​, have ​fueled ​​speculation ​that ​Boeing ​might ​seek an ​external ​remedy ​to navigate ​these ​​challenges.​

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​​Industry ​analysts and ​executives ​predict ​that ​Boeing ​will ​likely ​​seek an ​outside ​candidate ​with ​a ​stellar ​​reputation to ​fill ​the ​CEO ​role​. ​

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Among the potential external candidates being floated, GE CEO Larry Culp is seen as having the leadership and star power to rebuild confidence in Boeing. 

However, Culp has signaled his focus remains on steering GE Aerospace after the conglomerate’s breakup.

Another widely discussed name is Pat Shanahan, the former Boeing executive now leading key supplier Spirit AeroSystems. 

As an industry veteran with intimate knowledge of Boeing’s operations, Shanahan could be an ideal “outsider-insider” choice, particularly if Boeing acquires Spirit as speculated.

Other Potential Contenders

Former Boeing CFO Greg Smith, currently chairing American Airlines, and existing board member David Gitlin, head of Carrier Global, have also been mentioned as prospective candidates to take the helm at Boeing.

Prioritizing Engineering and Manufacturing Discipline

While the CEO search continues, Boeing’s workforce is clamoring for a back-to-basics approach centered on robust engineering and quality manufacturing processes. 

The labor unions argue Boeing had thrived under technical leadership for decades before perceived lapses in putting profits ahead of safety and operational excellence.

As ​​​Boeing boards ​​embark ​on this ​pivotal mission ​to install new ​leadership, ​the ​higher ​imperative ​will ​be selecting ​a ​chief ​with ​the ​requisite ​vision​, integrity​, ​and ​operational ​rigor to ​steer ​the iconic ​planemaker ​toward ​reforming ​its ​culture and ​a ​path to ​sustainable ​growth​​​.