BRUSSELS, April 16, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today named Antonio De Palmas as president of European Union and NATO Relations. De Palmas, 44, will be responsible for working with all European institutions and representing Boeing interests at the EU, European Parliament and NATO. He will be based in Brussels, Belgium, and report to Shep Hill, president, Boeing International.
De Palmas has been Boeing's communications director in Italy, where he was responsible for all company communications, including strategic planning and issues management. He developed and implemented communications and advocacy initiatives to support Boeing business objectives.
De Palmas is succeeding Joris Vos, who is retiring in June after five years in the role. "We are very grateful for the distinguished service of Joris Vos, on whose successes in representing Boeing Antonio will be able to build," said Shep Hill, president of Boeing International.
"We have been growing our presence in Europe for some time, creating significant mutual economic benefits. As a partner, customer and supplier we have been active in the European aerospace community for almost 70 years. We are in Europe for the long-term and Antonio's appointment underscores our ongoing commitment to strengthening our collaboration," said Hill.
From 1992, De Palmas spent eight years in Brussels working in the area of EU policy, including three years as EU and Government Affairs Manager for Oracle Europe, Middle East and Africa. He was also responsible for EU affairs for various business interests from 1992 to 1997.
Prior to joining Boeing in 2003, De Palmas was for three years Manager of Business Development for Cisco Systems Italy. In this position, he launched and managed strategic initiatives, such as the Cisco Networking Academy Program, and was responsible for developing the education market and company relations with the public sector.