Boeing replaces two retiring senior executives

Boeing announced Wednesday the retirement of two senior vice presidents: Thomas Pickering, 74, a former U.S. ambassador and Under Secretary of State who heads Boeing's International Relations division; and Rudy deLeon, 53, a former Deputy Secretary of Defense who heads the company's Washington DC lobbying office.

Pickering will be replaced by Laurette Koellner, 51, a member of Boeing's executive council who came from Chicago to Seattle in December 2004 to head the Connexion inflight broadband unit.

Stanley Deal, 41, head of sales and marketing operations at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will replace Koellner at Connexion.

DeLeon will be replaced by Tod Hullin, 62, head of corporate communications in Chicago. Hullin's job will go to Tom Downey, 41, head of communications for the commercial airplane division since 2002, who will leave Seattle for Chicago.