Boeing has announced that its Board of Directors has separated the roles of chairman and CEO, to allow Dennis Muilenburg to focus full time on running the company as it works to return the 737 MAX to the skies.

The US-based planemaker said Muilenburg will continue his president, director and chief executive role, while lead director David Calhoun was elected as the new chairman.

The board said in a statement that splitting the chairman and CEO roles will enable Muilenburg to focus full time on running the company as it works to return the 737 MAX safely to service, ensure full support to Boeing's customers around the world, and implement changes to sharpen Boeing's focus on product and services safety.

"The board has full confidence in Dennis as CEO and believes this division of labour will enable maximum focus on running the business with the board playing an active oversight role. The board also plans in the near term to name a new director with deep safety experience and expertise to serve on the board and its newly established Aerospace Safety Committee," Calhoun said.

Muilenburg said he is "fully supportive" of the Board's decision as he noted that the entire Boeing team "is laser-focused on returning the 737 MAX safely to service and delivering on the full breadth of our company's commitments."

This decision is the latest of several actions by the board of directors and Boeing senior leadership to strengthen the company's governance and safety management processes.

Boeing earlier announced it is setting up a permanent aerospace safety

committee in the company to reassure the public of its commitment to safety in its products and services.

The committee will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the safe design, development, manufacturing, production, operation, maintenance and delivery of the company's aerospace products and services.