Boeing

Bob Watt, who has served Boeing [NYSE: BA] as the vice president of State & Local Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship in the Northwest Region for the past six years, has announced he will retire by the end of 2007.

"Through his energy, his skills and his leadership, Bob Watt has made Boeing a better citizen of its community and a better company," Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said. "He will be sorely missed, but Bob leaves a wonderful legacy, and we will continue on the path that he has blazed for all of us."

"I have had the amazing opportunity for these last six years to help continue the legacy of great citizenship and community service that the women and men of Boeing have built over the past 90 years," Watt said. "The people I work with are truly ready to continue this leadership and at age 62, I am ready to spend a little more time with my family."

During his tenure, Watt and his team worked closely with Washington state leaders to make the state more competitive. He also helped to create the Aerospace Futures Alliance, led the Early Learning Council and serves on Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire's Washington Learns steering committee, all of which resulted in the creation of Washington state's new Department of Early Learning, Thrive By Five and the investment of hundreds of millions of new dollars in education.

Watt joined Boeing in 2001. Prior to joining the company, Watt served in leadership positions with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce; PhyCom Corp.; as deputy mayor of the City of Seattle under Mayor Norm Rice; five years as president/CEO of Family Services of Seattle/King County and more than 12 years at Youth Eastside Services in Bellevue, Wash.

Watt has held leadership positions on various philanthropic, educational and arts-related boards. He was a founding board member and chairman of the Children's Alliance in Washington state and is serving as the chair-elect for The Seattle Foundation.

In addition to spending time with his family, Watt will work on a book about organizational change and will continue his nonprofit work in child advocacy.