United Technologies has brought a former senior executive out of retirement and name him as the new leader for Sikorsky Aircraft as the parent company continues reviewing a potential spinoff.
Robert Leduc, 59, becomes president of Sikorsky despite retiring from a 35-year career at UTC, where he held senior leadership roles for UTC Aerospace Systems and Pratt & Whitney, including leading UTC’s part of the entry-into-service of the Boeing 787-8 in 2011.
“Bob is recognized as a proven leader, and he has the vision and experience necessary to led Sikorsky today and as its future chief executive officer, should Sikorsky be spun off,” says UTC chief executive Gregory Hayes.
Last month, Sikorsky announced launching a strategic review that will consider spinning off Sikorsky as a standalone company, with a decision expected by the end of the year.
Leduc’s predecessor as Sikorsky CEO, Mick Maurer, has been appointed a UTC senior vice-president of strategic projects. Maurer’s new role is to help UTC senior vice-president of strategic planning, Mike Dumais, to complete the strategic review of the potential Sikorsky spin-off and develop a plan for the transition.
Though some investors have long called for UTC to sell or spinoff Sikorsky, UTC officials had resisted until the departure in November of former chief executive Louis Chenevert. In March, Hayes announced that the company is formally reviewing a spinoff. The review includes multiple alternatives, but specifically mentions only the potential spinoff as a standalone company rather than as a merger or sale.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
