James A. Bell
Encyclopedia
James A. Bell is currently the Corporate President, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of The Boeing Company
. He served as interim President
and Chief Executive Officer
of the Boeing on March, 2005, following the resignation of Harry Stonecipher
. He returned to his singular role as Boeing's CFO on June 30, 2005 following the appointment of Jim McNerney as the new President
, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
of the Boeing Company. He was appointed Corporate President in June 2008.
, the youngest of four children. His mother Mamie was a former Los Angeles County government clerk. His father died in 2003. He earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles
. A partial scholarship helped pay for his first year of college, but he had to earn enough to pay his way through the remainder of school.
company as an accountant. At that company he followed a path into management
, from corporate senior internal auditor to accounting manager and finally as manager of general and cost accounting. He joined Boeing in 1996 when Rockwell's aerospace and defense units were acquired.
Within Boeing he has held positions as vice president of contracts and pricing for the company's space and communications division. He later became senior vice president of finance and corporate controller. In November, 2004 he became the company's Chief Financial Officer
, following the firing of Michael M. Sears
due to a government contract scandal. He is a member of the board of directors of Dow Chemical Company, the Joffrey Ballet
, the Chicago Urban League, World Business Chicago, the Chicago Economic Club and New Leaders for New Schools.
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of The Boeing Company
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
. He served as interim President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Boeing on March, 2005, following the resignation of Harry Stonecipher
Harry Stonecipher
Harry C. Stonecipher is a former President and Chief Executive of American aerospace companies McDonnell Douglas and, later, Boeing. Stonecipher orchestrated the merger between McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, and was widely credited with the resurgence of Boeing...
. He returned to his singular role as Boeing's CFO on June 30, 2005 following the appointment of Jim McNerney as the new President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Boeing Company. He was appointed Corporate President in June 2008.
Early life
He was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the youngest of four children. His mother Mamie was a former Los Angeles County government clerk. His father died in 2003. He earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
. A partial scholarship helped pay for his first year of college, but he had to earn enough to pay his way through the remainder of school.
Career
In 1972 he joined the RockwellRockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
company as an accountant. At that company he followed a path into management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, from corporate senior internal auditor to accounting manager and finally as manager of general and cost accounting. He joined Boeing in 1996 when Rockwell's aerospace and defense units were acquired.
Within Boeing he has held positions as vice president of contracts and pricing for the company's space and communications division. He later became senior vice president of finance and corporate controller. In November, 2004 he became the company's Chief Financial Officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
, following the firing of Michael M. Sears
Michael M. Sears
Michael M. Sears is a former Boeing executive.In 1992 Mr. Sears led the successful development of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, cited as the best managed aircraft program in U.S. Department of Defense history. In 1997, Mr. Sears was President of the Douglas Aircraft Company division of McDonnell...
due to a government contract scandal. He is a member of the board of directors of Dow Chemical Company, the Joffrey Ballet
Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is a dance company in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1956. From 1995 to 2004, the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. The company regularly performs classical ballets including Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, while balancing those classics with pioneering modern...
, the Chicago Urban League, World Business Chicago, the Chicago Economic Club and New Leaders for New Schools.
Career path
| Job Tenure | Company | Position |
|---|---|---|
| From 1972 | Rockwell International | Accountant |
| Rockwell International | Corporate Senior Internal Auditor | |
| Rockwell International | Accounting Manager | |
| Until 1996 | Rockwell International | Manager of General and Cost Accounting |
| 1996 – 2000 | The Boeing Company | VP of Contracts and Pricing; Space and Communications |
| 2000 – 2004 | The Boeing Company | Senior VP of Finance and Corporate Controller |
| 2004 – 2005 | The Boeing Company | Chief Financial Officer Chief financial officer The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management... |
| 2005 – 2005 | The Boeing Company | Chief Financial Officer; President and CEO |
| 2005 – 2008 | The Boeing Company | Chief Financial Officer |
| 2008 – Now | The Boeing Company | CFO and Corporate President |