As the crisis has engulfed Boeing following the near-catastrophic accident involving a 737 Max 9 aircraft in January, CEO Dave Calhoun has increasingly kept a low profile.
Now he is facing a very public criticism from US senators who accuse Boeing of putting profit before safety. A hearing on Tuesday will put Calhoun on the spot to defend his record and save his legacy as he prepares to step down later this year.
Investors who have endured a 32% stock drop this year and seen Boeing’s credit rating fall dangerously close to junk status have already turned their attention to Calhoun’s as-yet undisclosed successor. Boeing’s new chairman, Steve Mollenkopf, who took over in March as part of a senior management shake-up, is leading the search for the next CEO – and the hunt has accelerated in recent weeks, say people close to the case.
