Melbourne, FL - Oct 10, 2011 - The Harris Corporation board of directors has appointed William M. Brown president and chief executive officer effective Nov. 1, 2011. The board expects to appoint Brown to the board of directors at its December 2011 meeting. Brown succeeds Howard L. Lance, who has served as CEO since January 2003. Lance announced in May 2011 his intention to retire when a successor was named. Lance will continue to serve as chairman, president and CEO through Oct. 31, 2011, and will then serve as non-executive chairman of the board until Dec. 31, 2011.

On Jan. 1, 2012, Thomas A. Dattilo former chairman, president and CEO of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, and a member of the Harris Board of Directors since 2001, will become non-executive chairman of the Board. Dattilo is expected to serve in this role for up to two years. The board expects to name Brown to the combined chairman and CEO role at a later date.

Brown joins Harris from United Technologies Corporation, where he held several senior leadership roles since he joined that company in 1997. During the past six months, as senior vice president, corporate strategy and development, he has been responsible for the company's global strategic planning and M&A activity.

Prior to that he served five years as president of UTC's Fire and Security division, where he led 45,000 employees, operating 41 factories and 350 branches across 35 countries. Previously Brown held U.S. and international leadership positions in UTC's Carrier Corporation subsidiary.