Boeing head of defence, space unit to depart immediately [Video]

Boeing said on Friday the head of the company’s troubled defence, space and security unit is leaving the planemaker effective immediately.

New Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg in his first significant move since taking over in August, said Ted Colbert would be leaving and Steve Parker, the unit’s chief operating officer, would assume Colbert’s responsibilities until a replacement is named at a later date.

Boeing’s space business has suffered setbacks, notably NASA’s recent decision to send Boeing’s Starliner capsule home without astronauts that followed years of missteps.

Starliner has cost Boeing US$1.6 billion in overruns since 2016, according to a Reuters analysis of securities filings.

“Historically, Boeing held a superior reputation for our ability to manage programs, and we need to ensure it remains a key differentiator for us in the future,” Ortberg wrote in an email to employees.

He added he had learned “more about the future investments we need …