Boeing said it fired Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher after he had an affair with an executive that broke company rules, saying his leadership abilities had been damaged. ”
"As we explored the circumstances we felt there were some issues of poor judgment that would impair his ability to lead," Chairman Lewis Platt said to the press, then he said, "It's not the fact that he was having an affair." Well then if it's not the affair, what is it? As my pal Dave wondered, did he piss W off? Will Boeing lose government contracts?
Stonecipher had been credited with an aggressive marketing strategy that had seen a revival in their commercial jet orders. He came out of retirement in December 2003 to takeover after Boeing came under scrutiny for its hiring of a former Air Force official. You know, that was a problem because they are a major defense contractor. That's kind of a big deal. Nookie on the side? Not so shocking. Ask just about any CEO.
Do I condone what Stonecipher did? No. If my husband had an affair, he'd be in so much trouble, but should he get fired from his job? Hell no. How would we pay the Neiman Marcus bill?
