Textron Names Robert J. Ayotte Vice President, Audit Services

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) today announced that it has promoted Robert J. Ayotte to the position of vice president, Audit Services, reporting to acting Chief Financial Officer Richard L. Yates, effective today. In this role, Ayotte will lead the company’s global audit services activities and serve as an officer of the corporation. Ayotte replaces Michael A. Gardner, who is retiring from Textron.

“His vast expertise and success in guiding our corporation through important financial and compliance activities – like the adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley – makes him a perfect candidate for this role.”

“Bob is an exceptional talent and a proven Textron leader,” said Lewis B. Campbell, Textron chairman and CEO. “His vast expertise and success in guiding our corporation through important financial and compliance activities – like the adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley – makes him a perfect candidate for this role.”

Ayotte’s 30-year career with Textron has spanned several business unit and corporate leadership positions, both within and outside the United States. Most recently, he served as assistant corporate controller for the corporation, a post he held since 2002. In that capacity, he was instrumental in implementing a variety of enterprise-wide initiatives across Textron, including the development and execution of the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley controls program, its Finance Shared Services Center and integrated audit planning and United States Government compliance monitoring.

Ayotte joined Textron in 1979 as a senior auditor for Avco Corporation and subsequently served as manager, Internal Audit and vice president, Finance for Avco Overseas Services; group controller and vice president, Finance for Textron Systems; vice president, Finance for Avdel Textron (UK); vice president, Finance for Textron Fastening Systems Europe, and executive vice president and CFO of Textron’s Industrial Products segment.

Ayotte holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Boston College and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Babson College. He is a CPA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.