Boeing has appointed Kevin G. McAllister [centre] as the new president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes with immediate effect.

McAllister succeeds Ray Conner [left], who is retiring but will continue to serve as vice chairman of Boeing through 2017. Conner will also continue to provide strategic oversight and guidance to the company.

McAllister has worked for GE Aviation for 27 years and has been president and CEO of GE Aviation Services since 2014. He was previously vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing.

“Kevin is one of the industry’s best and most highly regarded senior executives, and we are thrilled to have him join Boeing and our strong Commercial Airplanes team,” said Dennis Muilenburg, chairman, president and CEO of Boeing. “He’s a passionate leader with decades of commercial aviation knowledge and experience. He knows Boeing well, shares our values and commitment to our people, and has the results-oriented operational and business experience needed to lead this vital and growing part of our company.”

Boeing has also appointed Stanley A. Deal [right] president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, a new business unit to be formed from the customer services groups within Boeing’s existing commercial airplanes and defence, space and security business units.

Deal has 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He has been senior vice president of Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services business since 2014, and was previously vice president and general manager of supply chain management and operations at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Stan is an exceptionally capable and experienced leader, and he’s ideally prepared to stand up an integrated Boeing services business to expand our share of a global commercial and defence services market worth an estimated US$2.5 trillion over the next 10 years,” Muilenburg said. “Substantial services growth is core to Boeing’s strategy as we enter our second century, and this move is a key enabler to accelerate our efforts and provide increasing value to our customers.”

McAllister and Deal will report directly to Muilenburg and become members of the company’s executive council.

“With Ray Conner’s retirement timeline in sight and an expanding global services market to pursue, these moves will further strengthen and grow Boeing and better serve our customers, employees, shareholders and other partners in the years ahead,” said Muilenburg. “We are immensely grateful to Ray for his leadership and contributions to Boeing over nearly four decades, and we will continue to rely on his vast experience and keen insights in supporting the leadership and business transitions underway.”