Editing Harry Stonecipher

{{Short description|American businessman (born 1936)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = 
| title1              = President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing
| term1               = 2003–2005<ref name="boeing_bio_stonecipher"/>
| predecessor1        = [[Philip M. Condit]]
| successor1          = [[James McNerney]]
| title2              = President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonnell Douglas
| term2               = 1994–1997
| predecessor2        = [[John McDonnell (businessman)|John McDonnell]]

| birth_name          = Harry Curtis Stonecipher
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1936|05|16}}
| birth_place         = [[Robbins, Tennessee]], U.S.
| education           = [[Tennessee Tech|Tennessee Polytechnic Institute]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| spouse              = {{marriage|Joan|1955|2005|end=divorced}}
| children            = 2
| signature           = Harry curtis stonecipher signature.svg
}}

'''Harry Curtis Stonecipher''' (born May 16, 1936) is an American business executive who was president and [[chief executive officer]] of American [[aerospace]] companies: [[Sundstrand Corporation|Sundstrand]], [[McDonnell Douglas]], and [[Boeing|The Boeing Company]]. Stonecipher was widely credited with the seeming resurgence of Boeing after government procurement scandals. However, his tenure also included major decisions to change Boeing's design and sourcing process for the new 787 airliner.  These decisions later proved to be organizationally and financially disastrous for the company. Stonecipher was forced to resign from Boeing following the disclosure of an affair with a subordinate, in violation of the Boeing Code of Conduct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/boeing-ceo-fired-over-affair-with-co-worker-1.547006|title=Boeing CEO fired over affair with co-worker|date= 2005-03-07|work= [[CBC.ca]]}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Stonecipher was born in [[Robbins, Tennessee]].<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/sns-ap-stonecipher-biobox,1,5606348.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025140402/http://www.latimes.com/sns-ap-stonecipher-biobox,1,5606348.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2013 |title=Ex-Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher at a Glance |work=Los Angeles Times |date=7 March 2005 |access-date=2013-04-17}}</ref> 

In 1958, he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science|BS]] in [[physics]] at the [[Tennessee Tech|Tennessee Polytechnic Institute]].
In May 2002, Stonecipher received an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science from [[Washington University in St. Louis]].
<ref name="boeing_bio_stonecipher"> {{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/history/pdf/Boeing_Founders.pdf |title= Aerospace Pioneers: Boeing leaders through the years |date= June 2023 |access-date= 2024-03-22 |page= 10 }} </ref>

== Career ==
Stonecipher began his career at [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]' Allison Division, where he worked as a lab technician and was influenced by [[Jack Welch]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Stonecipher-Harry-C-1936.html |title=Harry C. Stonecipher |publisher=Advameg, Inc. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Business |access-date=2013-04-17}}</ref> 

He moved to [[General Electric]]'s Large Engine Division in 1960, and began to move up the ranks. He became a vice president at GE in 1979, then a division head in 1984.  

In 1984, he left for [[Sundstrand Corporation|Sundstrand]], where he became President and CEO in 1989.<ref name="LATimes"/>

===McDonnell Douglas===
In September 1994, Stonecipher was elected President and CEO of [[McDonnell Douglas]], holding this post until its merger with Boeing in 1997. During this period he became much more of a public figure, and even began hosting the company's quarterly video report. He remained on the Board following the successful completion of that transaction, serving as President and [[Chief operating officer|COO]] of the merged entity. In 2001, he was elected Vice Chairman and retired as President and COO the next year, while continuing to serve on the Board as Vice Chairman.<ref name="LATimes"/>

===Boeing===
Stonecipher came out of retirement to lead Boeing, following the resignation of Chairman and CEO [[Phil Condit]] in December 2003 over several scandals. These scandals surrounded allegations of documents stolen from competitors and the hiring of a government procurement officer who at the time was involved in the [[United States Air Force|United States Air Force's]] [[KC-767]] contract. Stonecipher assumed the titles of President and CEO, which was not considered an interim appointment as there was no search initiated for a new Chief Executive, while [[Lewis Platt]] became non-executive Chairman of the Board.<ref name="Holmes">{{cite magazine|last=Holmes|first=Stanley|url= http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|title= Boeing: What Really Happened|date= 2003-12-15|magazine= [[Business Week]]|access-date= 2022-06-29|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031230060020/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_50/b3862001_mz001.htm|archive-date= 2003-12-30|url-status= dead|pages=32–37|issue=3862}}</ref>

Under Stonecipher's guidance, the Air Force lifted a 20-month suspension of Boeing's Launching Systems Group, which had been involved in one of the scandals, allowing them to bid on Pentagon contracts again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/business/09boeing.html |work=The New York Times |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |title=Boeing Could Soon Settle Ethics Inquiries, Chief Says |date=9 February 2005}}</ref> He also oversaw the launch of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] in order to challenge [[Airbus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/business/at-air-show-echoes-of-boeing-s-new-assertiveness-in-duel-with-airbus.html |work=The New York Times |first=Mark |last=Landler |title=At Air Show, Echoes of Boeing's New Assertiveness in Duel With Airbus |date=23 July 2004}}</ref> Although not fully evident at the time, the results of major changes to Boeing's airplane program design, sourcing and financing made during Stonecipher's and Condit's tenures would later prove disastrous.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2013/01/21/what-went-wrong-at-boeing/ |work=Forbes |first=Steve |last=Denning |title=What Went Wrong At Boeing |date=13 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/1-1-scale-commercial-aviation/92669-great-read-why-boeing-787-dreamliner-program-has-been-monumental-failure.html |work=The Seattle Times |first=((business staff)) |last=Seattle Times |title=A 'prescient' warning to Boeing on 787 trouble |date=February 2011}}</ref>  Shares of the company traded as high as $58.74 in 2005, up 54 percent during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/08/business/08place.html |work=The New York Times |first=Floyd |last=Norris |title=Boeing's Road to Redemption Paved With Affairs Great and Small |date=8 March 2005}}</ref> However, the outsourcing and divestment decisions made 20 years earlier continue to cause Boeing serious problems in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040125&slug=boeing25 |work=The Seattle Times |first=Dominic |last=Gates |title=Boeing considers sale of huge Wichita plant |date=25 January 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/struggling-with-defects-boeing-supplier-spirit-aerosystems-fires-ceo/ |work=The Seattle Times |first=Dominic |last=Gates |title=Struggling with defects, Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems fires CEO |date=October 2, 2023}}</ref>

After the merger, McDonnell executives took charge of the combined entity, and it was McDonnell’s financial management, under Stonecipher, that prevailed. "McDonnell Douglas bought Boeing with Boeing’s money" was a joke heard in Seattle. Stonecipher was said to refer to the company’s engineers as "arrogant".<ref name= merge>{{cite web |last1=Useem |first1=Jerry |title=The Long-Forgotten Flight That Sent Boeing Off Course |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/how-boeing-lost-its-bearings/602188/ |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=21 April 2024 |date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> Stonecipher submitted his resignation upon request of the Boeing Board of Directors on March 6, 2005, after an internal investigation revealed a consensual relationship with Boeing executive [[Debra Peabody]]. The probe found that Boeing business operations were unaffected, that Peabody's career and compensation were not influenced, and that there was no improper use of company expenses or property. Nonetheless, the board of directors decided that there would be "zero tolerance on breaches of ethics".<ref>Gates, Dominic (2005-03-08). [http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002200371_boefuture08.html "With Stonecipher ouster, Boeing faces CEO dilemma"]. Seattle Times, 8 March 2005.</ref> His wife of 50 years, Joan Stonecipher, filed for divorce just days after news of his affair became public.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Affair That Grounded Stonecipher |date=8 March 2005 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309045425/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf2005038_5360_db035.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=10 December 2008}}</ref> Stonecipher was succeeded as president and CEO on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer [[James A. Bell]], until Board Member [[James McNerney]] was hired on a full-time basis.<ref>Boeing (2005-06-30). [http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2005-06-30-Boeing-Board-Elects-W.-James-McNerney-Jr.-Chairman-President-and-CEO "Boeing Board Elects W. James McNerney, Jr. Chairman, President and CEO"]. Boeing, 30 June 2005.</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 1955, at age 18, Stonecipher married Joan in [[Rossville, Georgia]]. Stonecipher and his wife have two children.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-03-12-0503120178-story.html| title=Stonecipher's wife files to end 50-year marriage |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |author=Dougherty, Geoff | date=2005-03-12  |access-date= Jan 3, 2017}} </ref><ref name="sptimes_divorce">{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml | title=Couple built life around career| work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Barancik, Scott | date=2005-03-08 |access-date=2017-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316040859/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Couple_built_life_aro.shtml|archive-date=2005-03-16 |url-access=subscription}} [https://tampabay.newspapers.com/image/329981281/?terms=%22Couple%20built%20life%20around%20career&match=1 Alt URL]</ref>

In 1995, Stonecipher and his wife Joan celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Chicago with friends.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce"/> 

In 2005, after the news broke regarding Stonecipher's affair with a Boeing executive, his wife Joan filed for divorce.<ref name="chicagotribune_divorce"/><ref name="sptimes_divorce"/>

Stonecipher subsequently married Debra Peabody.<ref name="Other Woman">{{cite news |author1=Wallace, James |title=Focus at Boeing now on woman in affair |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Focus-at-Boeing-now-on-woman-in-affair-1168250.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=2005-03-09}}</ref> Debra Stonecipher bought the historic [[Moubray House]] in [[Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19378911 |title=Edinburgh's Moubray House to be gifted to Historic Scotland |work=[[BBC News]]|date=2012-08-12 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last= Robison |first= Peter |year= 2021 |title= Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing |location= New York |publisher= Doubleday |type= Hardcover |isbn= 978-0385546492}}

==External links==
* [http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Stonecipher-Harry-C-1936.html Harry C. Stonecipher biography]

* [https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/why-boeings-problems-with-737-max-began-more-than-25-years-ago Why Boeing's problems with 737 Max began more than 25 years ago]


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{{succession box|title=CEO of [[Boeing]]|before=[[Phil Condit]]|after=[[James A. Bell]]|years=2003-2005}}
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{{Boeing}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stonecipher, Harry}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:American chief executives of manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Boeing people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:General Electric employees]]
[[Category:McDonnell Douglas people]]
[[Category:People from Scott County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Tennessee Technological University alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Tennessee]]