Stephanie Pope, executive vice president of Boeing (NYSE: BA) and president and CEO of its global services business, is ascending to the rank of chief operating officer, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
Beginning Jan. 1, she will have oversight of the performance of Boeing’s three business units with responsibility for driving supply chain, quality, manufacturing and engineering excellence.
“Next year will be a significant transitional year in our performance as we continue to restore our operational and financial strength; and Stephanie will help drive the stability and predictability necessary to ensure we deliver on our customer, employee, regulatory, investor and other stakeholder commitments,” Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun said in a statement published Monday.
The three-decade Boeing veteran leads the company’s aerospace services business that supports commercial, government and aviation industry customers globally. Under Pope’s leadership, Boeing Global Services generated about a quarter of the company’s revenue.
Pope’s career with Boeing includes time as vice president and chief financial officer of its commercial airplanes business and her current services unit, VP of finance and controller for Boeing Defense, Space & Security and other senior leadership positions.
With Pope’s promotion, she is now considered as the front runner to replace Calhoun as Boeing CEO as the latter nears his retirement age. The chief executive is expected to remain in the top job at least one more year, according to sources.
