Boeing VP to watch over 787 supplier

The new leader of Boeing's troubled 787 Dreamliner program has moved quickly to shuffle top management and reorganize responsibilities.

Among other changes, new 787 Vice President Pat Shanahan appointed an executive specifically to oversee one of the major supplier partners, Vought, which builds the airplane's two rearmost fuselage sections in Charleston, S.C.

The appointment is a clear indication that Vought is a weak link in the Dreamliner supply chain.

Boeing announced the leadership changes internally Thursday, a month after disclosing a delay of at least six months in delivery of the first 787.

A week after the delay announcement, Boeing transferred Mike Bair, head of the program for four years. He was replaced by Shanahan, who made a name for himself on the defense side of the company as a hotshot troubleshooter.

Shanahan's changes, focused on fixing current production issues and mitigating risk ahead, rearrange the executives who now report to him and divide key responsibilities into three major areas: airplane development, the supply chain, and final assembly and delivery.

"Pat sees this as giving the leaders clear direction to achieve the milestones ... of first flight, certification and first delivery, and then full-rate production ramp-up," said 787 spokeswoman Yvonne Leach.

Shanahan appointed Scott Strode, a vice president formerly in charge of 787 production, to oversee all development activities with Vought "to strengthen management of the supply chain," according to the internal memo.

Strode will give "special attention to 787 recovery and production ramp-up," the internal announcement said, though his oversight also extends to Vought's development work on the new jumbo-jet derivative, the 747-8.

Leach said other executives fulfill similar oversight roles with other 787 suppliers, including the Japanese and Italian partners. But those executives are not as high level as Strode.

"Given the importance of Vought to the 787 program and the challenges they are facing, we've put Scott in that assignment," said Leach. "It's key to the program."

Vought, which is owned principally by the Carlyle Group and is releasing its third-quarter results today, declined to comment.

Vought spokeswoman Lynne Warne said that "our CEO won't conduct any media interviews after our earnings call. Given that we're not a publicly held company, we're already disclosing much more than is necessary."

Shanahan also named leaders for each of the new 787 organizations.

Mark Jenks was promoted to head of 787 Development. He had been in charge of the 787 wing team. Jenks is responsible for airplane definition, certification and delivery of the first 787.

Bob Noble will continue as vice president responsible for relationships with Boeing's global partners, leading the organization now called 787 Supply Chain.

Steve Westby will remain as vice president for manufacturing and quality, leading 787 Final Assembly and Delivery.

Shanahan also appointed two leaders to oversee and support structures work and installation of airplane interiors inside the Everett factory.

Jeff Stone, most recently production operations leader on the F-22 Raptor jet-fighter program in Seattle, will support 787 Body Structures.

Kathy Moodie will lead the interiors installation and be responsible for preparing the airplanes for flight.

Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or dgates@seattletimes.com

The original version of this story misstated the role of Mark Jenks, newly appointed head of 787 Development. Jenks is responsible for airplane definition, certification and delivery of the first 787. Dennis Egan is the vice president responsible for 787 derivatives.