3M has appointed William ‘Bill’ Brown as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 May 2024. Brown succeeds Michael Roman, who was appointed to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, also effective 1 May.
Brown is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L3Harris Technologies, a global aerospace and defence technology company where he also served as Executive Chair from June 2019 to June 2022. He previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Corporation prior to its merger with L3 Technologies in 2019. Brown joined Harris Corporation in November 2011 as President and Chief Executive Officer after spending 14 years at United Technologies Corporation serving in a variety of leadership roles.
“Bill’s strong track record as a CEO for a global technology company makes him the right leader for 3M,” said Roman. “He brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, innovation, and operational excellence to 3M. I look forward to working with him to build on our momentum in my new role as Executive Chairman.”
Brown holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Villanova University, in addition to an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is the former Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Board of Governors and formerly a member of AIA’s Executive Committee.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead this iconic global company,” said Brown. “The company has made significant positive changes under Mike’s leadership, and I am looking forward to building on that progress as CEO as 3M continues to deliver for its customers, shareholders, employees, and communities around the globe.”