Neel Mehta
Eric John, a former U.S. Senior Foreign Service officer, has joined Boeing as president of the company’s operations in Korea, one of the largest international markets for its commercial and defense business.
Boeing said Tuesday that John will succeed Pat Gaines, who has served the company for 27 years and will retire in September after four years as Boeing Korea’s president.
“Eric brings valuable experience from the public sector and international government operations and will help further expand our presence and collaboration with Korean customers, partners, communities and employees,” said Shep Hill, president of Boeing International.
John, who speaks Korean, has served as minister counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and as deputy director of Korean affairs in Washington, D.C.
He was also senior advisor for security negotiations and agreements in the State Department‘s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, foreign policy advisor to the U.S. Air Force chief of staff and the U.S. ambassador to Thailand.
Boeing opened its Korean office in Seoul in 1988 but has been partnering with the country for at least 60 years.
