Headlines

Boeing taps veteran insider Parker to lead its defense and space unit

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 1, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Boeing taps veteran insider Parker to lead its defense and space unit
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

(Reuters) -Boeing on Tuesday named veteran insider Stephen Parker as the president and CEO of its defense and space unit, as part of a broad overhaul by CEO Kelly Ortberg to rebuild its reputation,

Boeing Appoints Stephen Parker as New Head of Defense and Space Unit

(Reuters) -Boeing on Tuesday named veteran insider Stephen Parker as the president and CEO of its defense and space unit, as part of a broad overhaul by CEO Kelly Ortberg to rebuild its reputation, boost production and stabilize finances.

Parker, who has been with the U.S. planemaker for 37 years, was already the interim head of the business unit since September after the exit of former chief Ted Colbert in the first major leadership shake-up under Ortberg.

The defense, space and security unit, one of Boeing's three core businesses, has racked up billions in losses, mainly due to cost overruns on fixed-price contracts, company executives have said.

Its space business has faced major setbacks, including NASA's decision last year to return the Starliner capsule without astronauts after years of delays and technical issues.

"Under Steve's leadership, our defense business has stabilized its operations, improved program execution and strengthened relationships with our customers," Ortberg said.

The company had on Monday also named former Lockheed Martin finance chief Jesus 'Jay' Malave as its new CFO, effective Aug. 15.

(Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

Key Takeaways

  • Stephen Parker appointed as head of Boeing's defense and space unit.
  • Parker has been with Boeing for 37 years.
  • The unit has faced financial losses due to cost overruns.
  • NASA's Starliner project faced significant setbacks.
  • Boeing aims to stabilize finances and improve production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has been appointed as the CEO of Boeing's defense unit?
Stephen Parker has been named as the president and CEO of Boeing's defense and space unit.
What challenges has Boeing's defense and space unit faced?
The unit has racked up billions in losses due to cost overruns on fixed-price contracts and has faced setbacks in its space business.
What recent leadership changes occurred at Boeing?
Boeing appointed Stephen Parker as CEO of its defense unit and named Jesus 'Jay' Malave as the new CFO.
What did CEO Kelly Ortberg say about Stephen Parker's leadership?
Ortberg stated that under Parker's leadership, the defense business has stabilized operations and improved program execution.
What issues did NASA face with Boeing's Starliner capsule?
NASA decided to return the Starliner capsule without astronauts due to delays and technical issues.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category