Boeing

The Boeing Company today named Rinaldo Petrignani vice president of Boeing International Relations for Italy. Petrignani will be responsible for coordinating all company business activities in Italy and will be based in Rome at the Boeing-Italy headquarters.

"Boeing has enjoyed a long term in-depth relationship with Italian industry," said Phil Condit, Boeing chairman and chief executive officer. "Italy is a vibrant, growing economy and home to an increasing number of important customers and partners. Rinaldo will help us to further develop these relationships."

Boeing works closely with the Italian aerospace industry, the Italian armed forces and Italy's leading airlines. Alenia is the second-largest provider of aerostructures in the world to Boeing, and excluding the supply of aero-engines, Italy is the second-largest industrial supplier to Boeing in Europe.

Cooperation includes commercial airplanes, defence, space and communications. Alenia Spazio and Boeing work closely on the International Space Station. Alenia and Boeing have signed an agreement to jointly develop technologies for the future fast airplane known as Sonic Cruiser, and are partners in the development, production and support of the 767 Tanker Transport aircraft.

"Rinaldo Petrignani will focus on strengthening the Boeing partnership with Italy, expanding our in-country business activities and pursuing growth opportunities for the entire Boeing enterprise," said Tom Pickering, Boeing senior vice president, International Relations. "He has an extraordinary combination of expertise that makes him superbly qualified to lead our endeavors in Italy and to enhance co-operation."

Petrignani was Italian Ambassador in Washington, D.C., from 1981 to 1991. In his diplomatic career he had previously held various positions including deputy secretary general of NATO in Brussels, head of the Italian permanent mission to the International Organisations in Geneva, and diplomatic advisor to the Italian prime minister.

Prior to accepting his new appointment with Boeing, Ambassador Petrignani has been president of Alenia North America, president of Merzario USA, member of the board of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, member of the advisory board of HCL Technologies and consultant to ATT, Bechtel, Mills, Montedison and Alterra, (airport privatization and development).

C1903