Aerospace

Boeing Strengthens European Team with New EU, NATO and Government Affairs Leadership

Boeing is expanding its European presence to pursue new growth opportunities with two new Brussels-based leaders.

Boeing is expanding its European presence to pursue new growth opportunities with two new Brussels-based leaders. Liam Benham has been named the new president of Boeing EU,NATO and Government Affairs Europe and will be joined by Kristen Richmond as the new managing director for EU Policy.

Benham will head Boeing’s Brussels office and report into Boeing International president Sir Michael Arthur. Reporting to Benham in addition to Richmond, are the managing directors for Boeing Southern Europe, Angela Natale, and Boeing France, Jean Marc Fron.

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Benham and Richmond will work closely with Boeing teams across Europe to lead the company’s efforts in support of key EU policies that strengthen transatlantic ties, advance Europe’s economy, promote sustainable growth, contribute to a safe, innovative and competitive aviation system, and connect EU citizens and businesses.

Benham brings to the new role nearly three decades of experience in senior roles across Europe and the Asia-Pacific Prior to joining Boeing, he served as IBM’s Vice President Government and Regulatory Affairs in Europe and has held senior government relations positions at the Ford Motor Company, where he focused on key regions of interest, including Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa.

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Richmond previously served in various key strategic and executive positions across Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Boeing International, Boeing Capital Corporation, as well as at Microsoft, the American Heart Association and the U.S. Senate, where she started her policy career as legislative aide in Washington, D.C.

The new leaders succeed Kim Stollar who led the Boeing EU Policy and NATO team though four challenging years that included the COVID pandemic. During this period, she elevated Boeing’s presence with local institutions, partner organizations, suppliers, associations and academia. Stollar is now back in the United States as managing director, Commercial Contracts for Boeing Global Services.

Boeing is a key part of Europe’s aerospace community, contributing to and benefiting from the region’s tradition of innovation and excellence. The region is now led by three presidents, Liam Benham for EU, NATO and Government Affairs for Europe, Maria Laine for UK, Ireland & the Nordic region, and Dr. Michael Haidinger for Germany, Northern and Eastern Europe.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.