Boeing鈥檚 new CEO began work at the embattled aviation giant on Thursday, vowing a personal presence on the factory floor so as to be closer to operations.
Kelly Ortberg, the former head of Rockwell Collins who was named CEO of Boeing two weeks ago, said he would be based in Seattle 鈥榮o that I can be close to the commercial airplane programs,鈥� he wrote in a message to employees released by the company.
鈥業n fact, I鈥檒l be on the factory floor in Renton today, talking with employees and learning about challenges we need to overcome, while also reviewing our safety and quality plans,鈥� Ortberg said.
鈥楽oon I鈥檒l be visiting many of our sites and I look forward to meeting with teammates around the world.鈥�
Ortberg, 64, takes the helm as Boeing attempts to pivot from its latest crisis, prompted by a January incident in which a Boeing 737 MAX flown by Alaska Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing after a fuselage panel blew out mid-flight.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Boeing officials sat for two full days of questioning in a National Transportation Safety Board hearing on the incident.
Boeing officials acknowledged lapses in how the panel was removed for work in Renton without proper documentation in company systems in a process that evaded other quality control checks. The hearing also pointed to fissures in the relationship between Boeing and the machinists union.
鈥業 will be transparent with you every step of the way,鈥� Ortberg promised, with frequent and regular reports offering comments on progress and areas of improvement.
Ortberg said he is proud to be part of Boeing.