Feb. 23--Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg is adding the role of chairman to his list of duties at the Chicago-based airplane manufacturer starting March 1.
The company announced Monday that Muilenburg, 52, succeeds James McNerney, who is leaving the board.
Boeing independent lead director Kenneth Duberstein continues in that role.
Muilenburg had succeeded McNerney as Boeing's 10th CEO last July.
At that time, McNerney, 66, continued in the chairman role and announced plans to retire from the company.
McNerney was elected chairman in 2005.
From 2013 to 2015, Muilenburg was Boeing president and chief operating officer, sharing with McNerney oversight of day-to-day business operations. Muilenburg joined Boeing in 1985 as an engineering intern in Seattle and has held numerous positions at the company.
McNerney endured the woes and successes of the launch of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which suffered from production delays and a worldwide grounding in 2013, only to later be lauded for its fuel efficiency and customer-pleasing features.
byerak@tribpub.com
