RTX President and Chief Operating Officer Christopher T Calio is to succeed Gregory J Hayes as the company’s CEO at the 2024 RTX Annual Shareowners Meeting scheduled for 2 May 2024, the company announced on 14 December 2023.
While Hayes will continue to serve as executive chairman of RTX, Calio was also appointed to the company’s board of directors on 14 December.
“Today’s announcement reflects the Board’s deliberate, disciplined succession planning process,” said Hayes. “Chris has a deep understanding of the industry, our customers’ needs and our operations. I have every confidence in his ability to lead RTX and drive the company’s long-term success.”
“Greg has had a remarkable career leading RTX, his vision to transform from a conglomerate to a top global aerospace and defense company has created tremendous value for shareowners, employees and our nation,” added Fredric G Reynolds, Board lead director. “The Board looks forward to Greg’s continued influence and leadership as executive chairman.”
As president and chief operating officer of RTX, Calio oversees the company’s three business units, as well as its functions for technology, engineering, enterprise services, digital, operations, quality, supply chain, and environment, health and safety.
In 2023 Calio oversaw the realignment of RTX from four to three business segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon. Prior to his current role, Calio was president of Pratt & Whitney, where he led the business that designs, manufactures and services aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. He joined the company in 2005 and held various leadership roles and drove significant transformational change throughout his tenure.
“I deeply value the Board’s confidence in me and am grateful for the opportunity to lead the RTX team forward,” said Calio. “I am honored to succeed Greg, who has built the best-positioned portfolio in aerospace and defense. As a leadership team, we are focused on driving operational excellence and accelerating technological innovation as we deliver on the record backlog of customer demand and meet shareowner expectations.”
Hayes, meanwhile, was elected chairman of the board in 2021. He had a nearly 21-year career at United Technologies Corporation, holding several senior leadership roles across finance, corporate strategy and business development, culminating with his appointment as CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2016. As CEO, Hayes led the reshaping of UTC from industrial conglomerate to a focused aerospace company. Beginning with the divestiture of Sikorsky Aircraft in 2015 and the acquisition of Rockwell Collins in 2018, Hayes continued to focus the business with the spin-offs of Otis Elevator Company and Carrier Corporation in 2020.
Hayes then led the merger of UTC’s remaining aerospace businesses, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace Systems, with Raytheon Company to form RTX in April 2020.
