James A. Bell

James A. Bell
Bell in 2009
Born
James Aaron Bell

(1948-06-04) June 4, 1948 (age 76)
EducationCalifornia State University, Los Angeles (BS)
OccupationFormer executive of The Boeing Company
SpouseMary Bell
Children2

James Aaron Bell (born June 4, 1948) is a retired American executive of The Boeing Company.

Bell is a retired president, executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Boeing Company.[1] He served as interim president and chief executive officer of the Boeing Company in March 2005, following the resignation of Harry Stonecipher. [1] He returned to his singular role as Boeing's CFO on June 30, 2005, following the appointment of Jim McNerney as the new president, chairman, and chief executive officer of the Boeing Company.[1] He was appointed corporate president in June 2008.

He currently serves in the board of directors of Apple Inc.[2]

Early life

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On June 4, 1948, Bell was born in Los Angeles, California. Bell was the youngest of four children. Bell's mother Mamie was a former Los Angeles County government clerk. His father died in 2003.

Education

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In 1971, Bell earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from California State University, Los Angeles.[1][3] A partial scholarship helped pay for his first year of college, but he had to earn enough to pay his way through the remainder of school.[citation needed]

Career

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In 1972 he joined the Rockwell company as an accountant.[1] At that company he followed a path into management, from corporate senior internal auditor to accounting manager and finally as manager of general and cost accounting. He joined Boeing in 1996 when Rockwell's aerospace and defense units were acquired.[1]

Within Boeing, he has held positions as vice president of contracts and pricing for the company's Space and Communications Division.[1] He later became senior vice president of finance and corporate controller. In November 2004 he became the company's chief financial officer, following the firing of Michael M. Sears due to a government contract scandal.[1] He is a member of the board of directors of J. P. Morgan Chase, Dow Chemical Company, the Chicago Urban League, World Business Chicago, the Chicago Economic Club, New Leaders for New Schools and Apple Inc.[4]

Bell retired from the Boeing Company effective April 1, 2012. On February 1, 2012, Greg Smith succeeded Bell as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Boeing Company.[5]

Career path

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Job Tenure Company Position
From 1972 Rockwell International Accountant
Rockwell International Corporate senior internal auditor
Rockwell International Accounting manager
Until 1996 Rockwell International Manager of general and cost accounting
1996 – 2000 The Boeing Company VP of contracts and pricing; space and communications
2000 – 2004 The Boeing Company Senior VP of finance and corporate controller
2004 – 2005 The Boeing Company Chief financial officer
2005 – 2005 The Boeing Company Chief financial officer; president and CEO
2005 – 2008 The Boeing Company Chief financial officer
2008 – 2011 The Boeing Company CFO and corporate president

Awards

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In 2004, at the 32nd Alumni Awards Gala, Bell was the recipient of California State University, Los Angeles's Distinguished Alumnus or Alumna of the College of Business and Economics.[6]

Personal

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Bell and his wife, Mary, have two children, Champagne and Sean.[7] His campaign contributions were to Democratic party politicians.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "James A. Bell Executive Biography". The Boeing Co. 2008-04-01. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  2. ^ "Leadership and Governance - Apple". investor.apple.com. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  3. ^ "Alumni". October 22, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "James Bell Joins Apple's Board of Directors". Apple. October 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Feb 1, 2012. Boeing CFO James Bell Announces April 2012 Retirement "boeing.mediaroom.com". Retrieved Nov 29, 2016.
  6. ^ 32nd Alumni Awards Gala (2004)"alumni.calstatela.edu, 2004 James A. Bell '97". Retrieved Nov 29, 2016.
  7. ^ 32nd Alumni Awards Gala (2004) Biography"alumni.calstatela.edu, James A. Bell '97". Retrieved Nov 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "Charismatic Boeing CFO Bell retiring as 787 enters service". November 2011.
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Business positions
Preceded by CEO of Boeing
2005
Succeeded by