Textron’s new CEO has had a long career in the company’s aviation division. Lisa Atherton will take over from current CEO Scott Donnelly at the beginning of January. She has been the CEO of Textron’s Bell Helicopter division for the past eight years and her performance there vaulted her into the top job. “As a member of Textron’s executive leadership team for over 8 years, we witnessed Lisa play a key role in driving growth across her businesses and winning critical programs,” said lead director R. Kerry Clark in a news release. “On behalf of the Board, we look forward to working with her even more closely as she leads the company through this next phase of execution.”
Atherton succeeds Scott Donnelly, who has led Textron for 17 years. He’s staying with the company as executive chairman, as leader of the board of directors, and to work in an advisory role. Atherton said she’s looking forward to her new role. “I am excited to become president and CEO of Textron, and I look forward to working with Scott, the Board and our global teams to bring our innovative technologies and products to our customers and create value for our shareholders.”
Russ,
Slight correction: Lisa has been Bell’s chief executive for around 2 years, not 8. Prior to that role, she was Textron Systems’ chief executive, a role she’d held since 2017, which accounts for the 8 years as a part of Textron’s executive leadership team.