Boeing names James Bell acting CFO

Boeing today named James Bell its acting chief financial officer. He has been serving as senior vice president of Finance and corporate controller. Bell replaces Mike Sears.

“In James Bell we have a senior financial leader with intimate knowledge of our company and its financial strategy,” Chairman and CEO Phil Condit said. “He is a proven, highly skilled and experienced manager with a record of taking on and excelling at new tasks. Under James Bell’s direction financial strength and transparency will continue to remain a priority for Boeing.”

In 1972, Bell joined Rockwell as an accountant. He held leadership positions of increasing responsibility in auditing, program management and finance. Boeing acquired the space and defense businesses of Rockwell in 1996.

As the corporate controller for Boeing, Bell has been responsible for managing the company’s financial and cost accounting, external reporting, cost policy, company-wide estimating, and common business systems. He has been the company’s principal interface with the board of directors’ audit committee.

A native of Los Angeles, Bell attended California State University at Los Angeles, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.