New CEO for Harris

William M Brown, 48, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Harris Corporation.

He joins the company from United Technologies where he held various leadership roles after joining the company in 1997. In the last six months he had served as senior vice president, corporate strategy and development.

Before this he was president of UTC’s fire and security division, responsible for 45,000 employees, operating in 41 factories across 35 countries.

He succeeds Howard L Lance who has served as CEO since January 2003. Lance, 55, will continue as chairman, president and CEO and will then serve as non-executive chairman of the board until the end of the year.

On January 1 2012, Thomas A Dattilo, 60, former chairman, president and CEO of Cooper Tire and Rubber and a member of the Harris board, will become non-executive chairman. Datillo is expected to serve in this role for up to two years. The board expects to name Brown to the combined chairman and CEO roles later.