Emirates boss Tim Clark has recently called for Boeing to appoint a formidable leader who can navigate the aerospace giant through its current challenging period. At a major airlines summit, Clark expressed the need for a CEO with a strong engineering and business background to lead Boeing’s overhaul.
Addressing the urgency of the situation, Clark stated, “Is it fixable and salvageable? Yes, it is. Will it get things back to where it needs to? It must. And you’ll only do that with very strong leadership, who are fixated on doing the right thing.” According to Clark, restoring Boeing to its previous glory to meet current and future demands may take up to five years.
After the announcement of Dave Calhoun stepping down by the end of this year, Boeing began its hunt for a new CEO. Calhoun’s farewell was followed by a tumultuous period which marked the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, resulting in about 350 fatalities. A more recent incident was a loose door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet.
Clark has been a vocal critic of Boeing during its crisis. He revealed that he had never met Calhoun. In response to inquiries about Boeing’s next CEO, he emphasized the importance of selecting someone with comprehensive knowledge of aerospace engineering and strong business acumen. Expressing his cautious optimism about Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s newly appointed COO, who is considered a strong contender for the CEO position, Clark remarked, “Whether Stephanie Pope is going to be able to step up and do that (as well as) anybody, time will tell.”
Emirates Airlines, the largest buyer of long-haul jets to support its Gulf hub, has been significantly affected by Boeing’s delays. The airline is undertaking the largest cabin refurbishment in its history on its existing aircraft while awaiting the delivery of the Boeing 777X. Originally expected to be delivered in 2020, the dates have been pushed back until 2025, leaving Emirates grappling with the costs of maintaining its current fleet.
Clark also highlighted the need for prompt and reliable aircraft deliveries to ensure efficient business operations. He said, “We need airplanes, we cannot face constant delays. We’ve got a business to run and if we’re having to foot the bill for refurbishing all these (existing) airplanes it should be put at Boeing’s door.”
The urgency of the situation is deepened by the fact that Boeing is still awaiting a precise delivery date for the 777X. Clark plans to meet with Pope, who has recently taken over Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes division, at the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting in Dubai.
Pope, previously the head of Boeing’s Global Services division, was the only profitable unit within Boeing for the first nine months of 2023. Her recent appointment as the head of Commercial Airplanes, following Stan Deal’s resignation, makes her a significant figure within the company. According to analysts, Pope remains a top contender for the position of CEO, alongside other potential candidates such as Pat Shanahan, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems.
As Boeing navigates through these trying times, the aerospace industry and its stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the appointment of a capable CEO who can steer the company toward stability and renewed confidence.
