Greenwich, Conn., July 29, 2026 – RSR Partners is proud to recognize Steven M. Mollenkopf, Independent Chair of The Boeing Company, as The Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. Chair of the Year Award recipient for the 2025–2026 proxy year. Steve is the third annual recipient of this distinguished award.
The Chair of the Year Award was established to celebrate the legacy of Russ Reynolds, an industry icon who spent more than 50 years advising corporate boards and CEOs. The award annually recognizes an Independent Chair who has helped guide a board and company through significant turbulence while demonstrating exceptional leadership, character, and integrity. Rather than a lifetime achievement award, this honor recognizes a leader who stepped up to meet the moment when it mattered most. The recipient is chosen by an independent selection committee of renowned experts in their fields, including strategic communications, activist defense, investments, human capital, and governance.
“Steve Mollenkopf’s leadership as Chair came at a defining moment for Boeing,” said Brett Stephens, Chair of the selection committee and CEO of RSR Partners. “The company’s transformation is ongoing, but Steve’s leadership has helped establish a stronger path forward for both the board and the enterprise. His impact on board culture, effectiveness, and governance during a period of extraordinary consequence makes him a deserving recipient of this recognition.”
“As a director, you want to know that your experience and perspective matter, and Steve creates that environment,” said Akhil Johri, a member of The Boeing Company board of directors. “He cares deeply about the company, listens carefully, both in the boardroom and outside it, draws out the best thinking, and helps convert a range of views into clear priorities. That ability to harness the full intellectual capital of the board has and will continue to have a meaningful impact on how we help Boeing succeed.”
“Steve is precisely the kind of leader this award was created to honor,” stated Russ Reynolds. “He is motivated by service rather than recognition, approaching his role with quiet confidence and a clear desire to make a lasting contribution. Steve leads with integrity and character, always keeping his focus on the company and the people who depend on it.”
About Steve Mollenkopf
Steve brings to the Board critical insights in engineering leadership, risk management, complex global operations and human capital management from his more than 25 years of service at Qualcomm, an engineering-driven, high-technology manufacturing company and a global leader in the development and commercialization of foundational technologies for the wireless industry. During his tenure as CEO of Qualcomm, he led the company through significant change and unprecedented challenges. Steve possesses expertise and direct leadership experience in precision engineering, project management, manufacturing, quality control and designing testing regimes for complex systems. He also brings corporate governance expertise and perspectives on a wide array of strategic and business matters from his service on the board of Dell, a global technology company focused on providing broad and innovative technology solutions for the data and artificial intelligence era. Steve is a published IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) author and an inventor on 38 patents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. As a result of his complex manufacturing expertise, his engineering background and his record of independent leadership at Boeing, the Board elected Steve to serve as independent Board Chair.
Steve is Chair of the Board and a member of the Compensation Committee, the Governance & Public Policy Committee, and the Special Programs Committee.
About Russell S. Reynolds, Jr.
Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. (“Russ”) is an American business executive, author, and founder of two of the search industry’s most prominent firms. Considered one of the pioneers of the executive search and board recruiting profession, Russ has counseled the boards and CEOs of many of the world’s leading companies over the past 50 years. In 1969, he founded Russell Reynolds Associates, which soon became one of the world’s foremost international executive recruiting firms. Russ sold his interest in the firm in 1993. In 1994, Russ founded The Directorship Group, later named RSR Partners, where he served as Founder and Chairman until 2022.
About the Chair of the Year Award
RSR Partners announced the establishment of the Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. Chair of the Year Award in October of 2022. The award celebrates the legacy of Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. (“Russ”), who has spent more than 50 years advising boards and CEOs on leadership and governance.
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must serve as a Chair of a board of directors at a U.S. public company with revenue or market cap greater than $1 billion. The winner of the award is chosen by an independent committee comprised of renowned experts in the areas of strategy, finance, strategic communications, shareholder activism defense, investment management, human capital consulting, and corporate governance. This year’s committee included:
More information about the award can be found at: www.chairoftheyearaward.com.
About the RSR Partners
RSR Partners is a leading boutique retained board and executive search firm, headquartered in Greenwich, CT, dedicated to assisting boards and CEOs with their most crucial leadership needs. Established in 1993 by industry visionary Russell S. Reynolds, Jr., our firm brings over three decades of specialized experience in board and executive recruiting, strategic selection, and seamless succession planning.
We have successfully completed thousands of high-impact engagements for a diverse clientele, including public companies, mutual fund complexes, foundations, private equity-backed firms, and family-owned businesses. Our expertise spans a wide array of sectors, notably asset management, industrial, consumer, financial services, healthcare, marketing and digital, and technology.
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Contacts
Lindsay Griesmeyer
+1 (203) 618-7076
media@rsrpartners.com
