Boeing’s board of directors has accepted the resignation of Phil Condit, 62, as chairman and ceo. After thorough deliberations, the board decided that a new structure for the leadership of the company is needed and named Lewis E. Platt, 62, as non-executive chairman and Harry C. Stonecipher, 67, as president and ceo, effective immediately.

Both Platt and Stonecipher are said to be experienced leaders who are knowledgeable about the company’s operations and strategy. Platt has been a member of Boeing’s board of directors for four years; he is a retired chairman of the board, president and ceo of Hewlett-Packard Company. Stonecipher retired from Boeing in 2002 after working closely with Condit for five years in several roles, including vice chairman, president and chief operating officer. Stonecipher also has served as a Boeing director for six years.

“Boeing is advancing on several of the most important programmes in its history and I offered my resignation as a way to put the distractions and controversies of the past year behind us, and to place the focus on our performance,” Condit said. “I am proud of the strategies that have transformed Boeing into the world’s largest aerospace company, and I have the highest regard and respect for Lew and Harry. They each possess the know-ledge, experience and leadership to take this company to the next level. I will watch the progress of Boeing with great pride.”

Stonecipher said: “Boeing has a solid foundation for the future – strong businesses, valuable assets, and thousands of hard-working, dedicated people – and we are all deeply grateful to Phil for his contributions and accomplishments.

“We have the right strategy. The task before us is to execute. We need to strengthen our reputation with our customers, employees, investors and the communities in which we operate.

“Lew and I, and the entire board, are determined that the events of the last year no longer obscure the company’s strengths or distract us from what we need to do. Boeing is a great company with tremendous capabilities to define the future in each of our markets and deliver consistent, profitable growth.”