Tod Hullin to lead government affairs and communications
Tod R. Hullin will succeed deLeon and move to Washington, D.C., from Chicago. As senior vice president for public policy and communications, Hullin will assume deLeon’s responsibilities–leading all U.S. federal, state and local government liaison operations for Boeing–while continuing to lead the company’s communications function.
Thomas J. Downey will move to Chicago from Seattle, where he has led Boeing Commercial Airplanes Communications, to become vice president, corporate communications. Downey will report to Hullin and be responsible for Boeing companywide communications, including branding and advertising, employee and executive communications, and public relations. Business unit communications leaders also will report to Downey.
Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney expressed his appreciation for deLeon’s important contributions to the company’s strong and highly regarded presence in the U.S. capital through a period of increasing scrutiny and regulatory complexity.
„Rudy and his team have significantly strengthened and increased our capacity to manage the intricate public policy issues that affect our businesses in the United States and around the world,“ McNerney said. „While I understand Rudy’s desire to consider a new direction, I accept his decision with regret. Rudy has been considering other endeavors since early 2005, so I also appreciate his willingness to work with me in the transition following my appointment before taking this step.“
DeLeon said he plans to take time to assess opportunities before deciding what he will do next.
Hullin, 62, remains a member of the company’s Executive Council and continues reporting to McNerney.
„Tod knows Boeing, and he knows Washington. With his wide-ranging experience in both the public and private sectors, I am confident he will take our already high-performing public policy and communications teams to the next levels of performance,“ McNerney said.
In the coming weeks, Hullin, Downey and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Alan Mulally will work to select a leader for BCA Communications.
Prior to joining Boeing in 2003, Hullin held the senior public policy position at Vivendi Universal. Previously, he had served as the senior global public policy and communications officer for The Seagram Company, Time Warner and SmithKline Beecham.
Hullin’s government experience includes several positions on the White House staff and on the Domestic Council staff beginning in 1969. He served both the Nixon and Ford administrations. In 1976 he was appointed the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs.
DeLeon, 53, joined Boeing in 2001. Prior to that, he had served for 25 years in senior leadership positions in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government.
Downey, 41, moves to Boeing corporate offices in Chicago where he had previously served as vice president of Internal and Executive Communications from 1999-2002. He has also held communications leadership roles in the company’s defense and space operations.
