Exclusive: Beleaguered Airbus looks outside for new sales chief
John Leahy
PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) has embarked on a fresh search for a sales chief to take over from soon-to-retire John Leahy as the aerospace group seeks a clean break from turmoil over investigations into the use of middlemen  said three people familiar with the plans.
FILE PHOTO:  Airbus Chief Operating Officer-Customers John Leahy  delivers  his  speech during the annual Airbus Commercial Press Briefing in Blagnac  Southwestern France  January 11  2017. Picture taken January 11  2017.  REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
Leahy’s  deputy  Executive Vice-President Kiran Rao  had been identified as  Leahy ’s successor earlier this year  but his appointment to one of the industry’s most visible jobs was never confirmed as  Leahy ’s retirement slipped towards end-year.
Whoever replaces  Leahy  will face the job of repairing poor morale and absorbing the CSeries without upsetting demand for bread-and-butter larger jets offered by Airbus and Boeing.
But his replacement is unlikely to enjoy the same latitude as  Leahy  in negotiations or influence over industrial moves.
PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) has embarked on a fresh search for a sales chief to take over from soon-to-retire John Leahy as the aerospace group seeks a clean break from turmoil over investigations into the use of middlemen  said three people familiar with the plans.
FILE PHOTO:  [TGT]delivers  [TGT]  speech during the annual Airbus Commercial Press Briefing in Blagnac  Southwestern France  January 11  2017. Picture taken January 11  2017.  REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
Leahy’s  deputy  Executive Vice-President Kiran Rao  had been identified as  Leahy ’s successor earlier this year  but his appointment to one of the industry’s most visible jobs was never confirmed as  Leahy ’s retirement slipped towards end-year.
Whoever replaces  [TGT]will face the job of repairing poor morale and absorbing the CSeries without upsetting demand for bread-and-butter larger jets offered by Airbus and Boeing.
But his replacement is unlikely to enjoy the same latitude as  Leahy  in negotiations or influence over industrial moves.