Boeing nominates former U.N. Ambassador Haley to board seat

Boeing announced Tuesday that it has nominated former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to its board of directors, where she is expected to help guide the company in a global aerospace market where it competes fiercely with its European rival Airbus.

Her appointment is subject to approval at the Chicago-based jet manufacturer’s next annual shareholder meeting April 29.

“Not only is Boeing the largest aerospace company in the world and America’s biggest exporter, it also understands the importance of teamwork and building community through its network of suppliers in all 50 states and around the world,” Haley said in a news release.

Haley, 47, was the first female governor of South Carolina, serving three terms from 2011 to 2017. She was appointed U.N. ambassador by President Donald Trump in January 2017 and served until December, 2018, when she resigned.

Haley wrote in her resignation letter that she wanted to “take a step up” to the private sector after 14 years in public office.

For Boeing, a government contractor that benefits from billions of dollars every year in U.S. military supply contracts, Haley’s board appointment is the latest example of the company’s close ties to government.

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is a former senior vice president in Boeing’s commercial division. And the company has long been a favored landing place for outgoing government officials; the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight reported late last year that Boeing had hired 19 former high-level military officials.

“Boeing will benefit greatly from (Haley’s) broad perspectives and combined diplomatic, government and business experience to help achieve our aspiration to be the best in aerospace and a global industrial champion,” Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg said in a release.

She joins Boeing at a time when it is trying to scale up its U.S. military business and also must navigate an increasingly complex global trade environment.

Boeing soared past the $100 billion annual revenue mark for the first time last year amid strong demand for commercial jetliners like the 737 MAX and the 787 Dreamliner. But if faces stiff competition in the international jetliner market.