Boeing executive overseeing 737 program leaving company

Airplane manufacturer announces leadership shake-up as it faces ongoing quality issues.

The missing emergency door of Alaska Airlines N704AL, a 737 Max 9, which made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on January 5. Picture: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP

The Boeing BA executive in charge of the factory that built the jet involved in last month’s door-plug blowout is leaving the company amid a broader leadership shake-up.

Boeing said Wednesday that Ed Clark, general manager of the 737 program and the company’s factory in Renton, Wash., would be succeeded by Katie Ringgold, who oversees deliveries of 737s to customers. He oversaw the factory that built the jet involved in last month’s door-plug blowout midair during an Alaska Airlines flight. Investigators believe critical bolts needed to keep the piece in place were missing.

Clark took over the Renton plant in 2021 as Boeing worked to recover from a pair of fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The company on Wednesday also said it was creating a new position overseeing quality control at Boeing’s commercial airplanes unit.