Boeing’s CEO is out. The company announced Monday morning Dennis Muilenburg resigned from his position - effective immediately.
In a statement, Boeing said: The Board of Directors decided that a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the Company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders.
Related: Former Boeing manager tells Congress of problems at Renton plant
It’s the latest development in ongoing trouble for Boeing and its grounded 737 Max.
Seattle travel analyst Steve Danishek said Muilenburg’s ousting is no surprise.
“The only question is why did it take so long. ? They just gave his head to the FAA,” Danishek said.
He said Muilenburg had too many missteps - one being how he handled the situation after the two catastrophic 737 max crashes that killed a total of 346 people.
“He didn't get in front of the families for a long time, saying it would be too painful for them. No, it would be too painful for him,” Danishek said.
Danishek also pointed out Muilenburg’s failure to get the 737 Max back in the air and his interaction with the FAA.
Related: Boeing to workers: Be careful speaking about the 737 MAX at holiday dinner table
“When he pushed the FAA to say, ‘We're going to be back in the air in December,’” Danishek said, shaking his head. “You can't do that. That has to come from the FAA. It didn't - it came from Boeing. So I'm sitting here saying, ‘What's wrong with that guy? You can't do that.' The FAA was not going to be pushed,” he said.
In Muilenburg’s testimony to Congress in October, some House representatives asked him to step down and so did family members of victims.
"You're not the person anymore to solve the situation,” said Nadia Milleron, whose daughter was killed in the Ethiopia crash in March.
Last week, Boeing announced it would halt Max production in January.
Over the weekend, Boeing faced more trouble when its Starliner capsule failed to meet its goal of docking at the International Space Station.
Now, Muilenburg is out. Boeing says current Board of Directors Chairman David Calhoun will take over as CEO and President on Jan. 13, 2020.
Danishek believes the change will help clear the road to get the Max back in the sky.
“Absolutely. Nothing was going to happen quickly with him there,” Danishek said. “Until Mr. Muilenburg left, there was not going to be progress with the FAA. Now that he's gone, we can get - hopefully - all this back on track and get the Max's flying again,” he said.
Boeing’s regulatory filings with the SEC show Muilenburg is eligible for a severance package of up to $39 million.