Aircraft

Pratt & Whitney's president and chief executive Louis Chênevert has been elected president and chief operating officer of its parent company United Technologies (UTC) and is likely to lead the group by 2008.

Chênevert will share some of the role of chief executive of the group through a newly-created Office of the Chief Executive, jointly led by UTC chairman and current chief executive George David. The move is seen as a sign that Chênevert is being groomed as David's successor as UTC chief executive and marks the latest in a series of career moves within UTC companies for Chênevert who started his career with the group in 1993 when he took the post of vice president for operations at Pratt & Whitney Canada.

David says in a statement: "Louis has proven his abilities and delivered on his commitments as an exceptional operating executive at Pratt & Whitney during his 13 years with UTC, including seven years as Pratt & Whitney's President."

He added: "We anticipate some time will be necessary to develop all the skills and relationships required by a successor CEO. I expect to remain UTC's CEO for approximately two years, enabling Louis to broaden his corporate experience during that time".

Also in a series of appointments announced today, UTC says Steve Finger, currently president of Sikorsky Aircraft, will replace Chênevert as P&W president of and Jeff Pino Sikorsky's senior vice president of strategy; marketing and commercial programmes will replace Finger.