The head of Boeing’s defence business is leaving the company after years of losses from fixed-price contracts and a high-profile debacle with its space capsule that left two astronauts in space.
Chief executive Kelly Ortberg said in a memo to employees on Friday that Ted Colbert, who has run Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security arm since 2022, would depart the company “effective immediately”. A Boeing spokeswoman said Colbert was opting to leave.
Colbert’s exit is the first change in the company’s executive ranks since Ortberg took over the top job last month from Dave Calhoun. Steve Parker, the chief operating officer for the defence business, will lead it temporarily until the company names a permanent successor to Colbert.