Boeing senior vice-president Larry Clarkson is to retire following the recent restructuring of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group (BCAG) and the disappearance of Boeing Enterprises, of which he was president.
Boeing Enterprises, which includes Boeing Business Jets, FlightSafety Boeing Training International and Boeing Modification and Engineering Services, is being absorbed into the expanded Customer Services Business Unit. Alan Mulally, who succeeded Ron Woodard as president of the former BCAG in early September, has appointed Tom Schick to lead the Customer Services unit.
BCAG itself has been reformed into the Commercial Airplanes Sector, which will be one of three major Boeing businesses, along with Space and Communications and Aircraft and Missiles divisions.
The appointment of Schick, who has a background in modification and engineering, has sparked speculation that Boeing may expand aggressively its overhaul and heavy maintenance work. The company raised the prospect of such a move last year, but appeared to back off in the face of heavy criticism from customers and potential rivals, most notably Lufthansa.
In addition to the Customer Services unit, Mulally's reorganisation of BCAG involves the creation of two business units based on the distinction between single aisle and twin aisle products. The single aisle business unit focuses on the 717, 737, 757, MD-80, MD-90 and, until its closure, the widebody MD-11. The twin aisle unit, based at Everett, is focused on the 747, 767 and 777.
Source: Flight International
