Boeing Executive Calling It Quits

Ron Woodard, forced out earlier this month as president of Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, has decided to retire effective Nov. 1, the company announced Tuesday.

“On behalf of the people of Boeing, I want to personally express our appreciation to Ron for his many valuable contributions over the years and wish him the very best in his retirement,” said Phil Condit, Boeing’s chairman and chief executive officer, and the man who ultimately determined Woodard had to be replaced.

Woodard has not announced what he plans to do next, and was not available for comment Tuesday, Boeing spokeswoman Sherry Nebel said. However, industry analysts say his long experience in the aerospace industry should guarantee him another high-profile job.

Woodard, who was succeeded by Alan Mulally as head of Boeing’s largest division, lost his job after Boeing endured a year of messed-up production lines, parts and materials shortages, and billions of dollars in losses in its commercial jet business.

Boeing President Harry Stonecipher has said that Woodard was not a sacrificial lamb, but instead was fired because he and his team failed to produce a plan that would get Boeing back on the road to profitability.

Woodard, 55, joined Boeing in 1966.