OREANDA-NEWS. Boeing (NYSE: BA) today named Brett Gerry president of Boeing Japan, effective April 1. He will succeed George Maffeo who will retire from the company after nearly 40 years with Boeing. Gerry will be based in Tokyo, reporting to Marc Allen, president, Boeing International.

As president of Boeing Japan, Gerry will lead company-wide activities, continuing a legacy that began more than 60 years ago. He will be responsible for expanding Boeing’s local presence, managing business partnerships and government affairs, and pursuing new growth and productivity initiatives in Japan.

Gerry served seven years as vice president and general counsel for Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), where he led the legal function for the world’s premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners. Before joining BCA, he was chief counsel for Boeing Network & Space Systems. He came to Boeing following senior positions in the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House.

“Brett is one of our most proven and capable leaders whose diverse experiences across our commercial, defense and space businesses are well suited for leading our in-country team and working closely with our many Japanese partners, customers and suppliers,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing president and CEO.

For more than half a century, Boeing has been the top provider of commercial jetliners to Japanese airlines and a major supplier of military equipment and aircraft to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Today, Boeing retains deep relationships across Japan, including customers, supplier partners and government, as well as educational and charitable institutions. Boeing opened its first office in Japan in 1953 and now has approximately 230 employees at more than 20 major sites across the country.

“Boeing’s partnerships in Japan were built on our ties to more than 65 Japanese suppliers,” Allen said. “Brett’s leadership will be invaluable in helping Boeing build on that strong foundation as we further expand our collaborations with Japan – across industry, technology, and military and commercial services.”

Maffeo retires from Boeing after spending most of his career working in BCA in the areas of supplier management, airplane programs and propulsion. Before his move to Japan in 2012, Maffeo was vice present of supplier management for the 787 program and played a leadership role in the Dreamliner’s launch.

“Over the past four decades, George has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Boeing, our customers and our people,” Allen said. “His successful tenure as Boeing Japan president greatly strengthened key partnerships that have benefitted both Japan and Boeing, and positioned us well for continued growth and shared success in our second century of business.”

 Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 150 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. With corporate offices in Chicago, it employs more than 160,000 people across the United States and in more than 65 countries.