By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Boeing’s government affairs chief and top lobbyist is leaving with immediate effect, the aircraft maker’s CEO told employees in an email on Friday.
Ziad Ojakli will be replaced on an interim basis by Bill McSherry, who oversees the planemaker’s state and local government operations, Boeing (NYSE:) CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an email. Ojakli took over as head of Boeing’s government operations in September 2021 and previously led the government affairs offices of Ford Motor (NYSE:) and SoftBank (TYO:).
Boeing has had a difficult year after a door plug missing four key bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane at 16,000 feet in January.
Ojakli, who also served as an aide to former President George W. Bush, could not be reached for comment. Boeing declined to comment on the measure.
The company has faced criticism from US lawmakers on a number of fronts. Boeing’s relationship with the US government is critical and the company is a major defense contractor for the Pentagon.
Ortberg took over in August amid ongoing investigations by the Justice Department and the Federal Aviation Administration into the air emergency. He has worked to repair Boeing’s relationship with the FAA and lawmakers. This week he held another meeting with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in Seattle.
Ortberg also recently spoke with newly elected President Donald Trump and discussed possible new tariffs on China, a person briefed on the matter said.
Last month, Boeing said its head of commercial aircraft quality, Elizabeth Lund, would retire in December. Lund has led the aircraft manufacturer’s improvement plans. In September, Boeing said the head of its troubled space and defense unit would leave immediately.
In July, Boeing finalized an agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the FAA and pay up to $487 million. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor on Thursday rejected Boeing’s agreement to plead guilty, criticizing a diversity and inclusion provision in the deal.
