Key Points
Last fortnight, Boeings airline customers sent two clear messages when they asked to meet with the planemakers directors without its chief executive officer David Calhoun. ..
No matter where you fall on the organization chart, its never a good sign when a client wants a tte--tte with your boss and doesnt invite you along..
The board clearly received that message: Last Monday, Boeing said that Calhoun would exit by the end of the year and that Stan Deal, head of the commercial airplanes division, would retire immediately..
By summoning the companys directors, the airline CEOs were signalling that at the heart of the Boeing mess they see a huge governance problemthat the companys issues, whether quality or culture or strategy or leadership, all fall squarely on the board, which needs a meaningful overhaul..
With three of the companys 13 board members also serving on the Caterpillar board and two on the Marriott board, Boeings directors at the very least had the appearance of the kind of cosy interpersonal relationships that make objectivity difficult..
