Kevin McAllister appointed president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Kevin McAllister has become president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, succeeding Boeing Company vice chairman Ray Conner in the role.

McAllister has joined Boeing from GE Aviation.

Meanwhile, Conner is to continue to serve as Boeing vice chairman through 2017. Amongst other tasks, Conner will be expected to provide strategic oversight and guidance for the company’s transition to a single integrated services business and remain involved in ongoing product development strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Boeing chairman, president and chief executive Dennis Muilenburg has also named company veteran Stanley Deal as president and chief executive of Boeing Global Services, a new business unit to be formed from the customer services groups within the company's existing commercial airplanes and defence, space and security business units.

Boeing Global Services will bring together core capabilities currently within Commercial Aviation Services and Boeing Defense, Space & Security's Global Services & Support group.

While some defence and commercial customer fleet support will remain within the two existing business units, the new unit will provide a broad portfolio of advanced services, the company said.

Boeing Global Services is expected to begin full operations as the company's third major business unit by the third quarter of 2017, with a small core headquarters group based in Dallas.