Boeing has appointed former diplomat and trade leader Alexander Feldman as its new president for Boeing Southeast Asia. 

Feldman will succeed Ralph ‘Skip’ Boyce, who is retiring after more than 13 years at Boeing in Singapore. 

Feldman served in the administrations of President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush, with senior roles in the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce. He later helmed the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) for over 12 years as president and CEO, before taking on the role of chairman between 2020-2021. 

Boeing’s footprint also expanded with the establishment of Indonesia and Vietnam offices, setting up PT Boeing Indonesia and Boeing Vietnam Company Limited, respectively. Currently, 115 Boeing aircraft are in service between the two countries, with more than 500 on order, according to Aviation Week Intelligence Network Fleet and Data Services. 

The move also comes at a time when the two countries saw increased interests in Boeing products, such as the ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle.  Indonesia has also highlighted its intention to procure other Boeing defense products, such as F-15EXs, CH-47 Chinooks and the V-22 Osprey.