Boeing CEO’s Hands-Off Style Has Doubters as 787 Comeback Nears
- Calhoun’s leadership approach has yet to yield a turnaround
- Blown deadlines and quality lapses have unnerved investors
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Dave Calhoun was brought in as Boeing Co.’s chief executive officer to steer it through a crisis that unfurled after the crashes of two of its 737 Max jets. Yet so far during his tenure, problems just keep piling up.
The company’s stock has plunged 58% since his January 2020 arrival as Boeing has struggled to execute on key programs such as the 787 Dreamliner and Air Force One. Investors are unnerved by the $28 billion in cash the company burned through during the pandemic, as well as its blown deadlines and quality lapses. Calhoun has even endured public tongue-lashings from Boeing customers -- a rare spectacle that suggests they are unusually exasperated.