Call for Boeing CEO’s exit – wise or unfounded?

Published 10:30 am Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Within hours of Boeing’s release of its third quarter loss, a call for the ousting of Boeing chief executive Jim McNerney hit the Web.

I had Boeing’s management shakeups on my mind this morning when I attended an Economic Development Council of Snohomish County quarterly meeting. Two years ago, Boeing’s Mike Bair appeared at the meeting a few weeks after being moved from his position as 787 chief.

After the 787 delay this summer, Boeing’s Scott Carson announced his retirement a few months later. Both Carson and McNerney said the retirement was voluntary and not related to the 787’s troubles.

In June, analysts generally didn’t feel a management shakeup was likely over the 787 delay.

Although Boeing’s loss reported today was slightly more than expected, many analysts seem unsurprised if not upbeat about Boeing.

Readers: Is the call for McNerney’s ousting fair?