United Technologies Corp. said Chief Executive Gregory Hayes is adding the role of chairman, succeeding Edward A. Kangas, who returns to the role of independent lead director on the 14-member board.

Mr. Hayes took the helm of the industrial conglomerate nearly two years ago following the retirement of former chairman and CEO Louis Chenevert in November 2014. At the time, Mr. Kangas, who had been United Technologies' lead independent director since April of the previous year, was named to the post of nonexecutive chairman.

Mr. Hayes, 55 years old, is a 27-year veteran of the company, which makes everything from Pratt & Whitney jet engines to Otis elevators to Carrier air- conditioning systems.

United Technologies in July posted higher quarterly sales as the company made progress in righting its struggling elevator unit and ramping jet-engine production to historically high levels. Mr. Hayes also warded off a $90 billion takeover bid from rival Honeywell International Inc. earlier in the year.

Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 14, 2016 18:15 ET (22:15 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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