(Yicai) Aug. 26 -- Boeing China has appointed Carol Shen as its first managing director following the recent departure of Alvin Liu, president of the US airplane manufacturer's business in the country, a company insider told Yicai.

Shen, formerly of Boeing's commercial aircraft sales division, will step in as acting MD, the source at Boeing China said yesterday.

Last week, Bloomberg News cited people familiar with the matter as saying that Shen had been appointed interim president of Boeing China after Liu left in recent weeks.

Boeing China has had five presidents over the past 20 years, with three transferring from the parent company's headquarters in Seattle or other regions with little experience of the Chinese market, Boeing’s biggest overseas.

Born in Liaoning province in 1957, Liu succeeded Sherry Carbary as president of Boeing China in September 2023 after the latter retired. During his tenure, he worked to restore and boost the firm's local sales and promoted the 737 Max's airworthiness recertification in the country.

Before that, Liu led Boeing China's government relations team, with his work experience also including management positions at Ford Motor, Chrysler, and DaimlerChrysler.

China accounted for one-quarter of Boeing’s new aircraft deliveries at its peak in 2018, but this year’s US-China trade tensions have brought significant uncertainty to the firm's prospects in the market.

After the trade spat erupted in early April, Boeing faced an additional tariff of 125 percent on aircraft exported to China, creating severe cost pressures for Chinese airlines. Xiamen Airlines and national flag carrier Air China returned three 737 Max within a week, while other domestic airlines also held off taking deliveries. Shipments resumed in June.

Tariff talks between China and the United States are ongoing, and the outcome is likely to be a major influence on the willingness of Chinese airlines' to buy Boeing aircraft.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev