May 17 (Reuters) - Boeing's ( BA ) new chairman Steve

Mollenkopf on Friday said the company has sought feedback from

customers, employees and investors to find a new CEO as he

sought to reassure investors at the company's virtual annual

general meeting.

Boeing ( BA ) is dealing with a sprawling crisis that includes

multiple investigations, possible prosecution for past actions

and slumping production of its strongest-selling jet.

Mollenkopf, a former Qualcomm chief, is leading the

search to replace outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun, who said he would

retire by year-end as part of a management shakeup following a

January mid-air blowout on a new 737 MAX 9.

We "are committed to a process that will identify the

next CEO to lead Boeing ( BA ) through our current challenges and into

the future," he said.

"The months and years ahead are critically important to

our company as we take the necessary steps to regain the trust

lost in recent times, get back on track and perform like the

company that we all know Boeing ( BA ) can and must be everyday."

Shareholders will vote on whether Calhoun should remain on

the board.

"I would think it's going to be a rougher ride, this AGM,"

said David Duffy, co-founder and director of the Dublin-based

Corporate Governance Institute, in reference to Mollenkopf.

"Most (attendees) are institutional investors who want to

know, 'Can you give us some sort of commitment you're going to

sort this place out and what you hope to achieve within a

certain space of time?' Duffy said. "What he says in the AGM is

going to be important, not just for investors but passengers."

Boeing ( BA ) shares have plunged 30% this year.

Proxy advisor Glass Lewis has recommended shareholders vote

against the reelection of Calhoun and two other directors to

Boeing's ( BA ) board, citing dissatisfaction over efforts to transform

the planemaker's safety culture.

Separately, proxy advisor ISS flagged a misalignment between

CEO pay and company performance, arguing that investors should

not support a non-binding advisory vote on compensation.

Tony Bancroft, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, which

owns shares in Boeing ( BA ), said he believes Calhoun's pay package

is in line with a company of Boeing's ( BA ) size.

Investors have also been waiting to hear progress on

choosing Calhoun's successor. Management experts said the

company needs to find a new leader by mid-year as its current

leadership does not have the credibility to make bold changes.

"Boeing ( BA ) cannot get back on track until its board appoints a

new CEO from outside the company with a technical background and

a deep understanding of aerospace technology," said Bill George,

former Medtronic CEO and a Harvard professor of

management practice.

Bancroft said Pat Shanahan, CEO of Boeing ( BA ) supplier Spirit

AeroSystems ( SPR ), would be a "great option" as the next CEO.

Other possible successors flagged by analysts or sources have

included Boeing ( BA ) board member and Carrier boss David

Gitlin and American Airlines ( AAL ) Chairman Greg Smith.