Boeing's Interim President And CEO Is An Aerospace Veteran
James Bell was named president and
chief executive officer of The Boeing Company, the world’s
largest aerospace company, on an interim basis in March 2005. While
in this role, he will also continue to serve as chief financial
officer for Boeing, according to the company web site.
Bell is the first African-American to lead Boeing. His
ascendency to the top was announced Monday, after CEO Harry
Stonecipher was forced to resign in a sex scandal.
As president and CEO, Bell oversees Boeing’s strategic
direction, sets operational and financial performance targets,
directs capital expenditures and approves all key personnel
assignments. A 32-year Boeing veteran, Bell has extensive
experience overseeing business performance and growth at the
Chicago-based, $52 billion, 157,000-person commercial airplane and
defense company.
Bell took over as CFO in 2003, after the resignation of his
predecessor, Michael Sears. Sears is now serving time in a federal
prison for his part in a scandal that saw Boeing hire Darleen
Druyun, the USAF negotiator who awarded the company a $23.5 billion
deal to replace the service's aging tanker fleet. Druyun later
admitted she cooked the deal to win favor from Boeing. She, too, is
serving time in a federal prison.
As CFO, Bell is responsible for overall financial management of
the company, its financial reporting and transparency, and for
multiple corporate functions including Controller, Treasury,
investor relations, corporate and strategic development and the
company’s customer-financing activities.
Prior to being named CFO, Bell held
the position of senior vice president of finance and corporate
controller. A corporate officer in that position, he also served as
the company’s principal interface with the board of
directors’ audit committee.
Previous positions include vice president of contracts and
pricing for Boeing Space and Communications, where he oversaw
policy direction, acquisition reform, new business opportunities
and program performance. He worked closely with the Department of
Defense on military space programs and export issues. As a member
of the Joint Leadership Council, a Boeing initiative with senior
DoD and NASA acquisition executive membership, Bell helped advance
government-industry partnership.
Before becoming vice president at the operating group level in
1996, Bell served as director of business management of the Space
Station Electric Power System at the Boeing Rocketdyne unit. Bell
began his career with Rockwell in 1972 and held positions of
increasing responsibility to include corporate senior internal
auditor, manager of accounting and manager of general and cost
accounting.
A native of Los Angeles, CA, Bell attended California State
University at Los Angeles where he earned a bachelor's degree in
Accounting.
He is a member of the board of directors of the Joffrey Ballet,
the Chicago Urban League, World Business Chicago and New Leaders
for New Schools.