Harris names new president and CEO

William Brown has been named president and CEO of Harris Corp. effective Nov. 1, succeeding Howard Lance, who announced in May his intention to retire when a successor was named.

Lance, who has served as CEO since January 2003, will continue to serve as chairman, president and CEO through October 31, and will then serve as non-executive board chairman until December 31, according to an Oct. 10 company statement.

He also will serve as a senior adviser to the company through December 31, 2012.

The board expects to appoint Brown to the board of directors at its December meeting, and to the combined position of chairman and CEO role at a later date, the announcement said.

Brown joins Harris from United Technologies Corp., where he held several senior leadership roles since joining the company in 1997.

On January 1, 2012, Thomas Dattilo, former chairman, president and CEO of Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., and a member of the Harris board of directors since 2001, will become non-executive chairman of the board.

He is expected to serve in this role for up to two years.

Harris Corp., of Melbourne, Fla., ranks No. 13 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.