Boeing

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today named the Hon. Andrew Peacock, AC, to the new position of president Boeing-Australia. He will co-ordinate all company activities in Australia from a new corporate headquarters in Sydney.

Boeing employs approximately 3,000 people in Australia, the largest employee base outside the United States. The Australian businesses include aerospace support, space and communications activities, airport and airspace modeling, the manufacture of aerocomponents, and sales and business development activities.

"We increasingly see Australia as an important piece of the Boeing globalization strategy," said Phil Condit, chairman and chief executive officer -- The Boeing Company. "We have a high-caliber workforce in Australia involved in aerocomponent manufacturing, high-level defense communications systems and military aerospace support services.

"Andrew Peacock brings years of accomplishment to Boeing," Condit said. "His familiarity with Australian business and government protocols as well as the American business environment will enhance our relationships and presence in Australia."

In nearly 29 years of public life, Peacock held the Federal House of Representatives seat of Kooyong, Victoria. He served in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser Governments as a minister. His portfolios included Army, Foreign Affairs, Industrial Relations, and Industry & Commerce. He then led the Liberal Party of Australia, then in Opposition.

He resigned from Federal Parliament in 1994 and served as Australian Ambassador to the United States from 1997 until the beginning of 2000. Peacock was made a Companion in the Order of Australia in 1997 -- Australia's highest civilian honor.

Since leaving public life more than two years ago, Peacock has led his own international consulting firm and has held a number of non-executive company directorships. In 2000, he managed a major community consultation on the then-proposed Defense White Paper, on behalf of the Federal Government.

Born in Melbourne in 1939, Peacock has spent considerable time in the United States. He graduated in law from the University of Melbourne and worked as a barrister, solicitor and company director before entering Parliament.

Through mergers and acquisition, The Boeing Company has been involved in the Australian aircraft and defense businesses for 75 years and currently has about 3,000 employees throughout the country. In the last 10 years, Boeing has invested $A350 million in facilities, plant, equipment, and employment and training of Australians, $100 million in technology transfer, $200 million in local research and development and has exported aerostructure components worth some $2 billion.

C1921