A almost logical consequence of the troubled period the Boeing 737 MAX went through. Eric Lindblad, vice president and general manager of the 737 MAX program, also in charge of Renton’s plant, announced he is retiring. This is the first manager of Seattle’s aircraft manufacturer — with a significant experience on several programs — who quits Boeing since the beginning of the 737 MAX’s crisis and immobilization which follows Lion Air’s and Ethiopian Airlines’ accidents.

After joining Boeing for 34 years as a liaison engineer in 1985, after graduating from California State University in Long Beach with a Bachelor of mechanical engineering, he was appointed to his position in August 2018, at the head of production and delivery of the 737 MAX and 737 NG. His team then led more than 12,000 employees supporting the 737’s program.

Previously, Lindblad lead the 777X’s program for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where he was in charge of the design and development of the 777X. He assumed this function since October 2016 after being vice president and deputy director of the 777X’s program. Appointed to this function in June 2014, Lindblad lead the conception of the 777X’s wing ensuring its technical performance, deliverability and on-time delivery.

Before joining the 777X’s program he was assigned to several executive functions, one of which being vice president and 747  program’s general manager; vice president of the 747’s manufacturing operations; 787’s life cycle team’s chief and 747 industry manager.