By Jon Ostrower
Boeing Co. has assigned its aircraft development chief to right
its troubled aerial refueling tanker project, on the heels of a
surprise $835 million charge to its second-quarter earnings, the
company said in an internal memo to staff.
Scott Fancher, vice president of airplane development, will take
on "a special interim assignment to provide senior executive
oversight and increased management support to the tanker program,"
according to the memo from Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing's newly
appointed chief executive.
The new assignment adds to Mr. Fancher's current role overseeing
the company's new jetliner development programs. Bob Feldmann, vice
president and general manager of the 777X jetliner development,
will also become Mr. Fancher's deputy in the development role on
programs such as the stretched 787-10 and single-aisle 737 Max.
Mr. Fancher is no stranger to troubled programs, having served
as head of Boeing's flagship 787 Dreamliner program from 2008,
helping to right production and complete development after 3 1/2
years of delays.
Boeing on July 17 announced it was taking a 77 cent per share
charge against its earnings after testing revealed issues with the
jet's fuel system. The company aims to deliver the first 18 new
KC-46 tanker aircraft to the U.S. Air Force by August 2017.
A Boeing spokesman confirmed the content of the message.
Write to Jon Ostrower at jon.ostrower@wsj.com
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