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Kubasik ousted as L3Harris CEO following conduct violation, company says
Breaking Defense • • business
Key Points:
- L3Harris has removed Chris Kubasik as chairman and CEO after an investigation found he violated the company's code of conduct; Sam Mehta will immediately take over as CEO, and Lewis Hay will become chairman of the board.
- The company did not disclose specifics of Kubasik's conduct but stated it was unrelated to financial reporting, controls, or operational performance, and decided to separate from him following an independent investigation.
- Kubasik, who led L3Harris through its 2019 merger and the 2023 acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne, had previously resigned from Lockheed Martin in 2012 due to an improper relationship with a subordinate.
- Despite the leadership change causing a 3% drop in shares, analysts believe L3Harris’s core business will remain stable, with Sam Mehta viewed as an effective leader who may help close the company's performance gap with peers.
- Alongside Mehta's promotion, Lauren Barnes and Christopher Aebli have been appointed to lead key business units, signaling continuity in L3Harris's strategic focus on growth and innovation in defense technologies.
