Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has appointed Ray Conner, former Vice Chairman of The Boeing Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.
Conner comes to CD&R after a 40-year career at Boeing, where he started as a 727 mechanic and rose to become Vice Chairman. Most recently, he led the implementation of “One Boeing,” a strategic initiative that created a single integrated services business and commercial airplanes product developer.
“Ray is a gifted leader with a distinguished record of accomplishment in a variety of senior executive positions and extensive experience implementing enterprise-wide transformation on a global basis,” says Donald J Gogel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CD&R. “We expect to call on Ray’s wisdom, operational insights, and deep industry networks to inform our investment judgments and support our portfolio companies as they execute their business plans.”
“I can’t think of a finer investment firm to associate with,” says Conner. “CD&R’s performance culture, strong values, and distinctive approach to building long-term sustainable value match the priorities I have aspired to throughout my career.”
Conner held many senior executive positions at Boeing, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the company’s largest division. Prior to that, he led Sales, Marketing and Commercial Services and served as Vice President and General Manager of Supply Chain Management and Operations within the Commercial Airplanes division, as well as Vice President and General Manager of many of Boeing’s key aircraft programs and Vice President of Boeing’s Propulsion Systems Division. He also served in global sales roles covering Commercial Airplanes, the Americas, and Asia/Pacific.
Conner earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and an MBA from the University of Puget Sound.
