Boeing continues to look toward the future, most recently by assigning a new vice president to help lead the “industrial blueprint” for Boeing’s next new commercial plane.

Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, announced three leadership changes Wednesday, according to an internal email shared with The Seattle Times.

The changes reflect Boeing’s continuous improvement, Pope told employees, pointing to the company’s increased production rate for its 737 Max and progress on certifying long-delayed commercial programs, including the Max 10 and 777X family. In August, the Federal Aviation Administration certified Boeing’s smallest Max variant, the Max 7.

“As we ramp up airplane production and move closer to certifying key development programs, we are building real momentum for Boeing’s recovery,” Pope wrote to employees. “This progress enables us to focus strategically on the future and set Boeing up for long-term success.”

For the role closely aligned with Boeing’s next new plane, Pope tapped Sean Black, who currently leads Boeing’s Wichita, Kansas, site.

Black previously spent nine years at Spirit AeroSystems, the Wichita supplier that Boeing acquired last year. He also worked at Airbus, Boeing’s European rival, and aerospace and defense company BAE Systems.

As Boeing’s new vice president of BCA Future Production System, Black will be “instrumental in shaping the industrial blueprint for Boeing’s next commercial jet,” Pope wrote.

The position is not new, and its focus has shifted over the years, a Boeing spokesperson said.

“By developing the production system alongside the airplane design, Sean will help ensure a seamless transition from engineering to manufacturing,” Pope wrote.

The industry has been waiting for both Boeing and Airbus to launch their next all-new clean-sheet planes, but Boeing has been reluctant to put a firm timeline on the endeavor.

At the Farnborough International Airshow outside London in July, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury doubled down on his expectation that Airbus will launch its next narrowbody program by 2030. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg shifted his tone from just a few weeks earlier, saying he expects Boeing will have the financial stability to introduce its new program in the next few years.

The leadership changes announced Wednesday don’t change that sentiment but underscore Boeing's focus on the future.

Black will report to Brian Yutko, vice president of BCA product development who previously led Wisk, Boeing’s former autonomous flying taxi subsidiary.

Shakira Pastrana-Naumann, who is currently Boeing’s fabrication vice president and general manager, will replace Black leading Boeing’s Wichita site. Mick Sorrenson, vice president of composites and manufacturing within Boeing’s fabrication division, will take on Pastrana-Naumann’s former role.

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