[글로벌 CEO] 보잉 뮬렌버그(Muilenburg) 사임 요구 거부, B737 MAX 곧 운항재개

항공기 기체결함 사고로 코너에 몰린 데니스 뮬렌버그 보잉 CEO가 사임요구를 거부했다.

1일 뉴욕증시에 따르면 데니스 뮬렌버그 보잉 CEO는 최근 의회로부터 항공기 기체결함 사고와 관련하여 사임요구를 받았으나 사퇴할 계획이 "전혀 없다”고 밝혔다.
미국 의회 하원 교통위원회 소속 의원들은 청문회에서 뮬렌버그 CEO에게 질타를 퍼부었다. 346명의 희생자를 낸 2건의 B737 MAX 사고와 관련하여 "왜 아무도 책임을 지지 않느냐" 고 드그쳤다.

일부 하원 의원들은 뮬렌버그 CEO 에게 책임지고 사임하라고 요구하기도 했다.

이같은 인책 사임론에 대해 뮬렌버그는 “B737 MAX 문제는 나의 임기 중에 일어난 일이므로 내가 모든 것을 책임지고 회사를 정상화해야한다고 생각한다”면서 물러너지않겠다고 밝혔다. B737MAX 항공기는 2018년 10월 인도네시아 라이언에어와 2019년 3월 에티오피아항공에서 사고가 발생했다. 이후 미국을 비롯한 40여개 국가에서 운항금지 조치가 내려졌다.

美 승무원연합은 이와관련 뮬렌버그 CEO에게 서한을 보내 잇단 추락참사로 운항이 정지된 `737 맥스'의 운항 재개 가능성과 관련해 우려를 표시했다. 승무원 연합은 이 서한에서 " 2만8000명 승무원은 안전하지 않을 수도 있는 항공기에서 일하는 것을 거부한다"면서 "또 다른 비극을 피하기 위해 최고의 안전기준을 만들어 달라"고 밝혔다. 승무원 연합의 바사니 회장은 뮬렌버그 CEO의 미국 상원 청문회 증언을 거론하면서 737 맥스에 대한 감독이 사실상 붕괴됐다고 역설했다.

보잉은 추락 참사로 운항이 정지된 737 맥스에 대한 항공 당국의 '운항 재개 승인'이 연말까지는 이뤄질 것으로 보고있다. 보잉은 조종특성향상시스템(MCAS)으로 불리는 자동 실속(失速) 방지 시스템 업그레이드를 완료하고 미국 연방항공청(FAA) 등에 승인을 요청해옿은 상태다.

다음은 보잉 측이 밝힌 뮬렌버그 이력서
Muilenburg, 55, oversees the strategic direction of the Chicago-based, $101.1 billion aerospace company. With roughly 150,000 employees across the United States and in more than 65 countries, Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and top U.S. exporter. It is the leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes, military aircraft, and space and security systems, and a provider of global services; it supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 nations.

Muilenburg became chief executive officer in July 2015 and president in December 2013. He served as chairman of the board from March 2016 to October 2019.

Until July 2015, Muilenburg served as vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of Boeing, where he supported the company’s aerospace business operations and focused on specific growth enablers, including important global relationships, leadership initiatives and development program performance.

Before that, Muilenburg served as president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS).

Earlier, Muilenburg was president of BDS’s Global Services & Support business, vice president and general manager of the Boeing Combat Systems division, and program manager for Future Combat Systems. Prior to that, he served as vice president of Programs & Engineering for Boeing Air Traffic Management and director of Weapon Systems for the proposed Boeing Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. He also held program management and engineering positions on F-22, Airborne Laser, High Speed Civil Transport and the Condor reconnaissance aircraft, among others.

Muilenburg, who joined Boeing in 1985, spent the first 15 years of his career in the Puget Sound region of Washington, where he held a number of program management and engineering positions in support of both the commercial airplanes and defense businesses.

Muilenburg is a member of the board of directors of Caterpillar Inc., the U.S.-China Business Council, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, Northwestern University and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology). He is past chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) board of governors and a current AIA executive committee member. He is a board of directors member of Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies. Appointed by the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, he serves on the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group. He also serves on the board of trustees for the National World War II Museum.

He is an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

A native of Iowa, Muilenburg holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and an honorary doctor of science degree from Iowa State University as well as a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the University of Washington.


김대호 글로벌이코노믹 연구소장 tiger8280@g-enews.com