Boeing

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group has announced the appointment of Nancy Bethel as executive vice president. She will lead the world's most successful commercial airplane sales and support team which last year sold 717 Boeing aircraft valued at more than $53 billion, capturing 64 percent of the market for commercial jetliners. Additionally, the team, through its worldwide network of service centers, supports approximately 700 customers who operate more than 7,000 Boeing aircraft.

Bethel is also a member of the Office of the President, a select group of senior executives who develop and execute the strategies required to ensure the future success of the world's largest producer of commercial airplanes. She is one of the most senior woman executives at Boeing and in the aerospace and high-technology industries.

Bethel joined Boeing in 1978 and has spent her entire professional career at the company. She has worked alongside her predecessor, executive vice president Dick Albrecht, since January of this year to prepare for her new assignment. Albrecht retired from Boeing on August 1.

"Nancy has developed a detailed knowledge of our customers and the marketplace we compete in," said Ron Woodard, president, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. "She has brought terrific energy, enthusiasm and creativity to every new assignment. Above all, she has demonstrated a remarkable talent for leadership," he added.

As a result of the successful completion of the Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger, Bethel's team now includes more than 5,000 Douglas Products Division and Boeing Commercial Airplane Group employees involved in domestic and international sales, marketing, international business, communications and customer services.

These key organizations will work together to ensure flawless customer relationships and support to Boeing and Douglas customers from day one of the merger. This includes supporting more than 10,000 commercial jet airplanes in operation worldwide.

"We are committed to knowing our customers better than they know themselves - this is the key to our future success," said Bethel. " We have some of the smartest and most talented people in the world on our team and we are committed to doing what it takes to win in a very competitive marketplace. I am thrilled to be a part of the team at this historic time in the company's history," she added.

Bethel earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1976 and 1977. She has held key positions at Boeing in Marketing, Contracts and Sales, including being named regional director of North American Sales, where she was responsible for sales to American Airlines and other U.S. accounts. She has served as vice president and general manager of the Customer Services Division of Boeing Commercial Airplane Group and vice president of Marketing.

Born July 10, 1954, in Bluefield, W. Va., Bethel and her husband, John, and their son, Ian, make their home in Issaquah, Wash. Her outside interests focus on her son's activities and she also enjoys skiing, tennis and music.