Boeing has moved Sean Black, who leads its Wichita site, into a corporate role overseeing the company’s future production system for its next single-aisle aircraft. The appointment places a senior manufacturing executive in charge of the industrial blueprint for Boeing’s next commercial jet as the planemaker works to align production planning with aircraft design.
Black will report to Brian Yutko, who oversees product development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. He is being replaced in Wichita by Shakira Pastrana-Naumann. The change comes as Boeing steps up early work on a successor to the 737 or another future narrowbody programme, while keeping details such as launch timing, final configuration and build location under wraps.
Black previously spent nine years at Spirit AeroSystems before Boeing acquired the supplier, and also held roles at Airbus and BAE Systems. His move reflects Boeing’s focus on embedding manufacturing readiness early in development after years of production disruption and quality scrutiny across its commercial aircraft business.