(Reuters) - Boeing Co on Tuesday named Dennis Muilenburg as chief executive officer, effective July 1, succeeding Jim McNerney.
Muilenburg, 51, who has been president and chief operating officer since 2013, had been widely seen as McNerney's successor.
McNerney, 65, will retire at the end of next February. He will continue as chairman and will stay on "to ensure a smooth transition of his CEO responsibilities," Boeing said.
Muilenburg, was also elected to Boeing's board, the company said.
"We have high confidence in Dennis, who has distinguished his career by taking on tough challenges and delivering results," Kenneth Duberstein, the independent lead director on Boeing's board, said in a statement.
Muilenburg previously headed Boeing's Defense, Space and Security business.
(Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Leslie Adler)
