Spirit AeroSystems’ chief engineer, Sean Black, will lead the company’s Wichita, Kansas site once Boeing completes its acquisition of Spirit later this year, according to letters sent to employees by both companies on Tuesday.
Boeing announced the planned purchase of Spirit last year. The deal is expected to close in 2025, bringing Spirit back into Boeing after being spun off about 20 years ago.
Black will become general manager of Boeing Wichita and oversee some operations in Prestwick, Scotland, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, according to letters from Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope and Spirit CEO Pat Shanahan.
The letters indicate that some work in Belfast and Prestwick not taken over by Airbus will go to Boeing, part of a complex split of Spirit’s assets between the two aerospace giants.
Airbus aims to finalize its part of the deal, including taking over A220 wing production in Belfast, by the end of April. Meanwhile, Bombardier may acquire parts of Spirit’s Belfast site that support its Challenger and Global jets or partner with another buyer.
Boeing and Spirit declined to comment on the Belfast and Prestwick sites. Pope said Boeing is making progress on the acquisition. After the deal closes, Black will report to her.
