Boeing’s Top Lobbyist Leaves Company Effectively Immediately
Boeing’s head of government affairs and top lobbyist, Ziad Ojakli, is leaving the company immediately, according to an email sent by CEO Kelly Ortberg to employees. Ojakli will be replaced on an interim basis by Bill McSherry, who oversees the company’s state and local government operations.
Ojakli, who previously headed government affairs offices at Ford Motor and SoftBank, took over as head of Boeing’s government operations in September 2021. He had also served as an aide to former President George W. Bush, but attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
Boeing’s departure from Ojakli comes as the company has faced a difficult year following a mid-air emergency with one of its 737 MAX 9 jets earlier this year. The incident has led to criticism from U.S. lawmakers on multiple fronts, and the company’s relationship with the U.S. government is crucial as it is a major defense contractor for the Pentagon.
Ortberg, who took over as CEO in August, is working to repair Boeing’s relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration and lawmakers. Last month, the company said its head of quality for commercial airplanes, Elizabeth Lund, would retire in December, and in September, the head of its space and defense unit left immediately.
In July, Boeing finalized an agreement to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the FAA and pay up to $487 million. However, last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the agreement, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision in the deal.