Ex-US ambassador to Thailand appointed Boeing chief

Boyce will be based in Singapore and report to Shep Hill, president, Boeing International, said the company's statement.

Boyce, 56, succeeds two retiring Boeing leaders: Douglas Miller, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems vice president and leader of the Boeing Singapore office and Paul Walters, who has led Boeing's business activities in the remainder of Southeast Asia based in Malaysia.

"Skip is an experienced leader who possesses an indepth knowledge of the region," Hill said.

Prior to joining Boeing Boyce was a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service. He served as the United States ambassador to Thailand, from January 2005 to December 2007. Before that he was ambassador to Indonesia, from October 2001 to October 2004, and deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, from August 1998 to July 2001.

His other U.S. government assignments included deputy chief of Mission in Bangkok, deputy chief of Mission in Singapore, and advisor to the deputy secretary of state, responsible for the foreign affairs budget.

Boyce holds degrees from George Washington University and Princeton University and speaks four languages: English, French, Persian, and Thai.