Harry Stonecipher: Difference between revisions
imported>DonFB Reverted 1 edit by 2001:1C02:1A1F:B000:BD92:FC7F:2B56:CAA1 (talk): Unreferenced pov |
imported>Vivaldi m →Personal life: now former |
||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Harry | '''Harrison Curtis "Harry" Stonecipher''' (born May 16, 1936) is an American business executive who was president and [[chief executive officer]] of American [[aerospace]] companies: [[Sundstrand Corporation|Sundstrand]], [[McDonnell Douglas]], and [[Boeing|The Boeing Company]]. Stonecipher was widely credited with the seeming resurgence of Boeing after government procurement scandals. However, his tenure also included major decisions to change Boeing's design and sourcing process for the new [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|787 airliner]]. These decisions later proved to be organizationally and financially disastrous for the company. Stonecipher was forced to resign from Boeing following the disclosure of an affair with a subordinate, in violation of the Boeing Code of Conduct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/boeing-ceo-fired-over-affair-with-co-worker-1.547006|title=Boeing CEO fired over affair with co-worker|date= 2005-03-07|work= [[CBC.ca]]}}</ref> | ||
== Early life and education == | == Early life and education == | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
Stonecipher came out of retirement to lead Boeing, following the resignation of Chairman and CEO [[Phil Condit]] in December 2003 over several scandals. These scandals surrounded allegations of documents stolen from competitors and the hiring of a government procurement officer who at the time was involved in the [[United States Air Force|United States Air Force's]] [[KC-767]] contract. Stonecipher assumed the titles of President and CEO, which was not considered an interim appointment as there was no search initiated for a new Chief Executive, while [[Lewis Platt]] became non-executive Chairman of the Board.<ref name="Holmes">{{cite magazine|last=Holmes|first=Stanley|url= http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|title= Boeing: What Really Happened|date= 2003-12-15|magazine= [[Business Week]]|access-date= 2022-06-29|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031230060020/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|archive-date= 2003-12-30|url-status= dead|pages=32–37|issue=3862}}</ref> | Stonecipher came out of retirement to lead Boeing, following the resignation of Chairman and CEO [[Phil Condit]] in December 2003 over several scandals. These scandals surrounded allegations of documents stolen from competitors and the hiring of a government procurement officer who at the time was involved in the [[United States Air Force|United States Air Force's]] [[KC-767]] contract. Stonecipher assumed the titles of President and CEO, which was not considered an interim appointment as there was no search initiated for a new Chief Executive, while [[Lewis Platt]] became non-executive Chairman of the Board.<ref name="Holmes">{{cite magazine|last=Holmes|first=Stanley|url= http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|title= Boeing: What Really Happened|date= 2003-12-15|magazine= [[Business Week]]|access-date= 2022-06-29|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031230060020/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|archive-date= 2003-12-30|url-status= dead|pages=32–37|issue=3862}}</ref> | ||
Under Stonecipher's guidance, the Air Force lifted a 20-month suspension of Boeing's Launching Systems Group, which had been involved in one of the scandals, allowing them to bid on Pentagon contracts again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/business/09boeing.html |work=The New York Times |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |title=Boeing Could Soon Settle Ethics Inquiries, Chief Says |date=9 February 2005}}</ref> He also oversaw the launch of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] in order to challenge [[Airbus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/business/at-air-show-echoes-of-boeing-s-new-assertiveness-in-duel-with-airbus.html |work=The New York Times |first=Mark |last=Landler |title=At Air Show, Echoes of Boeing's New Assertiveness in Duel With Airbus |date=23 July 2004}}</ref> Although not fully evident at the time, the results of major changes to Boeing's airplane program design, sourcing and financing made during Stonecipher's and | Under Stonecipher's guidance, the Air Force lifted a 20-month suspension of Boeing's Launching Systems Group, which had been involved in one of the scandals, allowing them to bid on Pentagon contracts again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/business/09boeing.html |work=The New York Times |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |title=Boeing Could Soon Settle Ethics Inquiries, Chief Says |date=9 February 2005}}</ref> He also oversaw the launch of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] in order to challenge [[Airbus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/business/at-air-show-echoes-of-boeing-s-new-assertiveness-in-duel-with-airbus.html |work=The New York Times |first=Mark |last=Landler |title=At Air Show, Echoes of Boeing's New Assertiveness in Duel With Airbus |date=23 July 2004}}</ref> Although not fully evident at the time, the results of major changes to Boeing's airplane program design, sourcing and financing made during Stonecipher's tenure as President and COO, and CEO later, would later prove disastrous.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2013/01/21/what-went-wrong-at-boeing/ |work=Forbes |first=Steve |last=Denning |title=What Went Wrong At Boeing |date=13 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/1-1-scale-commercial-aviation/92669-great-read-why-boeing-787-dreamliner-program-has-been-monumental-failure.html |work=The Seattle Times |first=((business staff)) |last=Seattle Times |title=A 'prescient' warning to Boeing on 787 trouble |date=February 2011}}</ref> Shares of the company traded as high as $58.74 in 2005, up 54 percent during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/08/business/08place.html |work=The New York Times |first=Floyd |last=Norris |title=Boeing's Road to Redemption Paved With Affairs Great and Small |date=8 March 2005}}</ref> However, the outsourcing and divestment decisions made 20 years earlier continue to cause Boeing serious problems in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040125&slug=boeing25 |work=The Seattle Times |first=Dominic |last=Gates |title=Boeing considers sale of huge Wichita plant |date=25 January 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/struggling-with-defects-boeing-supplier-spirit-aerosystems-fires-ceo/ |work=The Seattle Times |first=Dominic |last=Gates |title=Struggling with defects, Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems fires CEO |date=October 2, 2023}}</ref> | ||
Stonecipher famously stated that "When people say I changed the culture of Boeing, that was the intent, so that it is run like a business rather than a great engineering firm", a statement that has since been quoted many times in articles about Boeing's subsequent engineering problems in the 2020s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=Why Boeing’s Problems with the 737 MAX Began More Than 25 Years Ago {{!}} Working Knowledge |url=https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/why-boeings-problems-with-737-max-began-more-than-25-years-ago |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Harvard Business School |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eremenko |first=Paul |title=How to fix Boeing, according to a former Airbus technology chief |url=https://fortune.com/2024/04/22/how-to-fix-boeing-airbus-technology-chief-leadership-culture/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How Airbus took off - Works in Progress Magazine |url=https://worksinprogress.co/issue/how-airbus-took-off/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=worksinprogress.co |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Holt |first=Joe |title=How Boeing Lost Its Way |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephholt/2020/02/03/how-boeing-lost-its-way/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> | |||
After the merger, McDonnell executives took charge of the combined entity, and it was McDonnell’s financial management, under Stonecipher, that prevailed. "McDonnell Douglas bought Boeing with Boeing’s money" was a joke heard in Seattle. Stonecipher was said to refer to the company’s engineers as "arrogant".<ref name= merge>{{cite web |last1=Useem |first1=Jerry |title=The Long-Forgotten Flight That Sent Boeing Off Course |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/how-boeing-lost-its-bearings/602188/ |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=21 April 2024 |date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> Stonecipher submitted his resignation upon request of the Boeing Board of Directors on March 6, 2005, after an internal investigation revealed a consensual relationship with Boeing executive [[Debra Peabody]]. The probe found that Boeing business operations were unaffected, that Peabody's career and compensation were not influenced, and that there was no improper use of company expenses or property. Nonetheless, the board of directors decided that there would be "zero tolerance on breaches of ethics".<ref>Gates, Dominic (2005-03-08). [http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002200371_boefuture08.html "With Stonecipher ouster, Boeing faces CEO dilemma"]. Seattle Times, 8 March 2005.</ref> His wife of 50 years, Joan Stonecipher, filed for divorce just days after news of his affair became public.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Affair That Grounded Stonecipher |date=8 March 2005 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309045425/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=10 December 2008}}</ref> Stonecipher was succeeded as president and CEO on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer [[James A. Bell]], until Board Member [[James McNerney]] was hired on a full-time basis.<ref>Boeing (2005-06-30). [http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2005-06-30-Boeing-Board-Elects-W.-James-McNerney-Jr.-Chairman-President-and-CEO "Boeing Board Elects W. James McNerney, Jr. Chairman, President and CEO"]. Boeing, 30 June 2005.</ref> | After the merger, McDonnell executives took charge of the combined entity, and it was McDonnell’s financial management, under Stonecipher, that prevailed. "McDonnell Douglas bought Boeing with Boeing’s money" was a joke heard in Seattle. Stonecipher was said to refer to the company’s engineers as "arrogant".<ref name= merge>{{cite web |last1=Useem |first1=Jerry |title=The Long-Forgotten Flight That Sent Boeing Off Course |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/how-boeing-lost-its-bearings/602188/ |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=21 April 2024 |date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> Stonecipher submitted his resignation upon request of the Boeing Board of Directors on March 6, 2005, after an internal investigation revealed a consensual relationship with Boeing executive [[Debra Peabody]]. The probe found that Boeing business operations were unaffected, that Peabody's career and compensation were not influenced, and that there was no improper use of company expenses or property. Nonetheless, the board of directors decided that there would be "zero tolerance on breaches of ethics".<ref>Gates, Dominic (2005-03-08). [http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002200371_boefuture08.html "With Stonecipher ouster, Boeing faces CEO dilemma"]. Seattle Times, 8 March 2005.</ref> His wife of 50 years, Joan Stonecipher, filed for divorce just days after news of his affair became public.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Affair That Grounded Stonecipher |date=8 March 2005 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309045425/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=10 December 2008}}</ref> Stonecipher was succeeded as president and CEO on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer [[James A. Bell]], until Board Member [[James McNerney]] was hired on a full-time basis.<ref>Boeing (2005-06-30). [http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2005-06-30-Boeing-Board-Elects-W.-James-McNerney-Jr.-Chairman-President-and-CEO "Boeing Board Elects W. James McNerney, Jr. Chairman, President and CEO"]. Boeing, 30 June 2005.</ref> | ||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
In 1955, at age 18, Stonecipher married Joan in [[Rossville, Georgia]]. Stonecipher and his wife have two children.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-03-12-0503120178-story.html| title=Stonecipher's wife files to end 50-year marriage |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |author=Dougherty, Geoff | date=2005-03-12 |access-date= Jan 3, 2017}} </ref><ref name="sptimes_divorce">{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml | title=Couple built life around career| work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Barancik, Scott | date=2005-03-08 |access-date=2017-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316040859/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml|archive-date=2005-03-16 |url-access=subscription}} [https://tampabay.newspapers.com/image/329981281/?terms=%22Couple%20built%20life%20around%20career&match=1 Alt URL]</ref> | In 1955, at age 18, Stonecipher married Joan in [[Rossville, Georgia]]. Stonecipher and his now former wife have two children.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-03-12-0503120178-story.html| title=Stonecipher's wife files to end 50-year marriage |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |author=Dougherty, Geoff | date=2005-03-12 |access-date= Jan 3, 2017}} </ref><ref name="sptimes_divorce">{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml | title=Couple built life around career| work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Barancik, Scott | date=2005-03-08 |access-date=2017-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316040859/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml|archive-date=2005-03-16 |url-access=subscription}} [https://tampabay.newspapers.com/image/329981281/?terms=%22Couple%20built%20life%20around%20career&match=1 Alt URL]</ref> | ||
In 1995, Stonecipher and his wife Joan celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Chicago with friends.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce"/> | In 1995, Stonecipher and his wife Joan celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Chicago with friends.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce"/> | ||
| Line 76: | Line 78: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stonecipher, Harry}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Stonecipher, Harry}} | ||
[[Category:1936 births]] | [[Category:1936 births]] | ||
[[Category:American chief executives | [[Category:American chief executives in the manufacturing industry]] | ||
[[Category:Boeing people]] | [[Category:Boeing people]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:24, 5 December 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Harrison Curtis "Harry" Stonecipher (born May 16, 1936) is an American business executive who was president and chief executive officer of American aerospace companies: Sundstrand, McDonnell Douglas, and The Boeing Company. Stonecipher was widely credited with the seeming resurgence of Boeing after government procurement scandals. However, his tenure also included major decisions to change Boeing's design and sourcing process for the new 787 airliner. These decisions later proved to be organizationally and financially disastrous for the company. Stonecipher was forced to resign from Boeing following the disclosure of an affair with a subordinate, in violation of the Boeing Code of Conduct.[1]
Early life and education
Stonecipher was born in Robbins, Tennessee.[2]
In 1958, he graduated with a BS in physics at the Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. In May 2002, Stonecipher received an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science from Washington University in St. Louis. [3]
Career
Stonecipher began his career at General Motors' Allison Division, where he worked as a lab technician and was influenced by Jack Welch.[4]
He moved to General Electric's Large Engine Division in 1960, and began to move up the ranks. He became a vice president at GE in 1979, then a division head in 1984.
In 1984, he left for Sundstrand, where he became President and CEO in 1989.[2]
McDonnell Douglas
In September 1994, Stonecipher was elected President and CEO of McDonnell Douglas, holding this post until its merger with Boeing in 1997. During this period he became much more of a public figure, and even began hosting the company's quarterly video report. He remained on the Board following the successful completion of that transaction, serving as President and COO of the merged entity. In 2001, he was elected Vice Chairman and retired as President and COO the next year, while continuing to serve on the Board as Vice Chairman.[2]
Boeing
Stonecipher came out of retirement to lead Boeing, following the resignation of Chairman and CEO Phil Condit in December 2003 over several scandals. These scandals surrounded allegations of documents stolen from competitors and the hiring of a government procurement officer who at the time was involved in the United States Air Force's KC-767 contract. Stonecipher assumed the titles of President and CEO, which was not considered an interim appointment as there was no search initiated for a new Chief Executive, while Lewis Platt became non-executive Chairman of the Board.[5]
Under Stonecipher's guidance, the Air Force lifted a 20-month suspension of Boeing's Launching Systems Group, which had been involved in one of the scandals, allowing them to bid on Pentagon contracts again.[6] He also oversaw the launch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in order to challenge Airbus.[7] Although not fully evident at the time, the results of major changes to Boeing's airplane program design, sourcing and financing made during Stonecipher's tenure as President and COO, and CEO later, would later prove disastrous.[8][9] Shares of the company traded as high as $58.74 in 2005, up 54 percent during his tenure.[10] However, the outsourcing and divestment decisions made 20 years earlier continue to cause Boeing serious problems in 2023.[11][12]
Stonecipher famously stated that "When people say I changed the culture of Boeing, that was the intent, so that it is run like a business rather than a great engineering firm", a statement that has since been quoted many times in articles about Boeing's subsequent engineering problems in the 2020s.[13][14][15][16]
After the merger, McDonnell executives took charge of the combined entity, and it was McDonnell’s financial management, under Stonecipher, that prevailed. "McDonnell Douglas bought Boeing with Boeing’s money" was a joke heard in Seattle. Stonecipher was said to refer to the company’s engineers as "arrogant".[17] Stonecipher submitted his resignation upon request of the Boeing Board of Directors on March 6, 2005, after an internal investigation revealed a consensual relationship with Boeing executive Debra Peabody. The probe found that Boeing business operations were unaffected, that Peabody's career and compensation were not influenced, and that there was no improper use of company expenses or property. Nonetheless, the board of directors decided that there would be "zero tolerance on breaches of ethics".[18] His wife of 50 years, Joan Stonecipher, filed for divorce just days after news of his affair became public.[19] Stonecipher was succeeded as president and CEO on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer James A. Bell, until Board Member James McNerney was hired on a full-time basis.[20]
Personal life
In 1955, at age 18, Stonecipher married Joan in Rossville, Georgia. Stonecipher and his now former wife have two children.[21][22]
In 1995, Stonecipher and his wife Joan celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Chicago with friends.[21]
In 2005, after the news broke regarding Stonecipher's affair with a Boeing executive, his wife Joan filed for divorce.[21][22]
Stonecipher subsequently married Debra Peabody.[23] Debra Stonecipher bought the historic Moubray House in Edinburgh.[24]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Gates, Dominic (2005-03-08). "With Stonecipher ouster, Boeing faces CEO dilemma". Seattle Times, 8 March 2005.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Boeing (2005-06-30). "Boeing Board Elects W. James McNerney, Jr. Chairman, President and CEO". Boeing, 30 June 2005.
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Alt URL
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links