Charles “Duff” Sullivan is set to become managing director of Boeing Canada, effective August 4, 2020. He will be based in Ottawa and report to Donna Hrinak, president of Boeing Canada. Sullivan succeeds Bob Cantwell, who is based in Vancouver and will become director of policy and strategy integration for the Boeing Canada team.
Sullivan will be responsible for strengthening company-to-country relationships and pursuing new business and industrial partnerships. Boeing Canada is positioned for playing a key role in a range of procurement programs and partnerships within Canada’s generational Strong, Secured, Engaged (SSE) defence policy.
The SSE is built on a 20-year horizon to meet more than 200 CAF objectives, but it is being driven by an initial 10-year increase in defence spending from $18.9 billion in 2016/17 to $32.7 billion in 2026/27 – an increase of more than 70 per cent. The 20-year investment plan for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) alone will reach $46.5 billion, spread among more than 50 critical equipment, infrastructure and information technology projects. This includes Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP), with Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III as one of three aircraft competing for the contract, along with the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and Saab Gripen E.
“Duff has a distinguished 40-year career in aviation, aerospace, the military, public safety and security,” said Hrinak. “His unique expertise will advance Boeing’s relationships and help develop new business opportunities that can further expand our century-long partnership with Canada.”
Prior to joining Boeing, Sullivan served as chairperson and CEO of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada. He is a veteran of the RCAF, notes Boeing Canada, where he accumulated more than 3,500 flying hours on jet aircraft, 1,600 of which were flown in the CF-18 Hornet during three operational fighter tours.
Boeing Canada explains Sullivan has also served in several senior executive and leadership positions throughout his career, most notably as Director-General of Capability Development at National Defence Headquarters; Director of International Security and Senior Defence Adviser in the Prime Minister of Canada’s Privy Council Office; Major-General on a 12-month tour of duty in Afghanistan as NATO’s Air Component Commander; and, Director of Operations for the Canadian North American Air Defense Command Region during 9/11 and the G8 and G20 Summit in Kananaskis.
Boeing has approximately 1,600 employees at 15 locations across Canada, focused on the company’s commercial, defense, services and space interests. Boeing facilities in Canada provide parts, components and assemblies for all current Boeing 7-series jetliners, along with software development and consulting services.
