UTC Names New Presidents at Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand

HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) announced today that David Hess, currently President of Hamilton Sundstrand, will succeed Stephen Finger as President of Pratt & Whitney Jan. 1, 2009 when Finger retires. Alain Bellemare, now President of Pratt & Whitney Canada and Executive Vice President for Pratt & Whitney Group Strategy & Development, will succeed Hess at Hamilton Sundstrand. Hess and Bellemare will report to UTC President & Chief Executive Officer Louis Chenevert.

"I am pleased to announce these important changes in UTC's senior leadership," Chenevert said. "This orderly transition again demonstrates the strength and depth of UTC's management team."

Hess, 53, has headed Hamilton Sundstrand since 2005, overseeing steady growth in revenues and profits. Under his leadership, the company won major systems contracts on the Boeing 787, Airbus A380, Joint Strike Fighter, Embraer regional jet family, and Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircraft, as well as Sikorsky's CH-53K helicopter.

"Dave has built an impressive record of success at Hamilton Sundstrand," Chenevert said. "I look forward to Dave using this experience in his new position and leading continued exceptional performance at Pratt & Whitney."

Hess joined UTC in 1979 and has held executive positions at Hamilton Sundstrand since 1995. He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor's degree in physics from Hamilton College in New York. He also was awarded an MIT Sloan Fellowship in 1989, receiving a master's in management in 1990.

Bellemare, 47, was appointed President of Pratt & Whitney Canada in June 2002, and took on additional responsibilities as Executive Vice President, Group Strategy & Development, for Pratt & Whitney in March 2007. While heading the Pratt & Whitney Canada unit, he was responsible for the successful launch of the PW600-class of jet engines that is powering a new generation of Very Light Jet aircraft. On assuming his new position, Bellemare will join the UTC Presidents Council.

"Alain's track record of achievement as an aerospace executive makes him well prepared to lead Hamilton Sundstrand as it continues to deliver value to customers and UTC shareholders," Chenevert said.

Bellemare joined Pratt & Whitney Canada as Vice President, Manufacturing, in October 1996, was named Executive Vice President in June 2001, and appointed President in June 2002. Prior to joining Pratt & Whitney Canada, Bellemare spent more than 12 years in a variety of engineering and manufacturing positions with Kraft Canada and Crown Cork & Seal Canada. Bellemare holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke and an MBA from McGill University in Montreal.

Finger, 59, is retiring after 38 years at UTC, virtually all of it at Pratt & Whitney, where as President he oversaw the successful launch of the company's new Geared Turbofan engine family called PurePower. He has been a passionate advocate for UTC's Achieving Competitive Excellence operating system. Earlier in his career, he led Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines business and served as Executive Vice President for Engineering and Operations at Pratt & Whitney. Under his leadership, the company developed the highly successful Joint Strike Fighter (F135), F117 and F119 engine programs. From 2003 to 2006, he was President of UTC's Sikorsky Aircraft unit.

"Steve has made many extraordinary contributions over his long tenure. We will miss his energy and experience. We wish him and his family many happy years in the future," Chenevert said.

Succeeding Bellemare as President of Pratt & Whitney Canada is John Saabas, 48, who is currently Executive Vice President there. He joined Pratt & Whitney Canada in 1985, became an executive in 1997, and has held positions of increasing responsibility since. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Canada's University of Waterloo and a doctorate from McGill University in Montreal.