Honeywell Aerospace Spin-Off: Who's Taking Charge?

Honeywell has confirmed plans to install James (Jim) Currier as President and CEO of its Aerospace business, which is to become an independent, publicly-traded company by the second half of 2026.

The move forms part of a wider strategy to separate its three divisions: Advanced Materials, Automation and Aerospace.

This strategic reshaping aims to create focused, standalone operations. Honeywell Aerospace, which reported US$15bn annual revenue in 2024, is set to become “one of the largest publicly listed pure-play aerospace suppliers”, according to the company.

Honeywell believes the standalone Aerospace business is well positioned to tap into long-term demand across propulsion, cockpit systems, navigation technologies and auxiliary power units. These systems are central to modern aircraft performance and safety.

Meanwhile, Craig Arnold has been named as Chairman of the Aerospace Board of Directors.

Honeywell CEO Vimal Kapur says: “Together, Jim and Craig bring extensive leadership experience and complementary industry expertise across aerospace and industrial operations that make them the ideal fit to lead Honeywell Aerospace in this new chapter.”

“As a pure-play aerospace supplier with a highly focused leadership team, Honeywell Aerospace will not only have greater flexibility to advance innovative new technologies but also to sharpen its strategic focus and optimise capital allocation as it delivers for stakeholders while continuing to shape the future of aviation.”

Experience in aerospace and industrial transformation

Jim brings more than two decades of Honeywell experience into the new structure. He became President and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies back in 2003, following a career that spanned senior roles across the organisation.

His past positions include leading the electronic solutions business, overseeing the aftermarket operation worldwide and serving as Vice President for Airlines in North America. These roles give him operational control and commercial visibility across both civil and defence segments.

Under Jim’s leadership, Honeywell says the Aerospace Technologies unit will cement its role as a key aerospace and defence supplier.

Writing on LinkedIn, Jim says: “The opportunity is immense. Honeywell Aerospace technology powers virtually every commercial and defence aircraft platform worldwide and, as a standalone company headquartered in Phoenix, we’ll have the agility to accelerate innovation, sharpen our strategic focus and deliver even greater value for our customers, partners and stakeholders.”

“I want to thank everyone at Honeywell for their dedication and trust.”

Craig also brings considerable experience to his role, having held leadership positions across various industrial and technology businesses over two decades. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Eaton Corporation, a power management company, leading the organisation through major transformation by focusing on operational discipline.

Vimal continues: “Craig is a proven leader with a deep track record of delivering transformational results and driving continuous improvement that will enable him to provide strong strategic and governance oversight as Honeywell Aerospace evolves its business.”

Spin offs reshape Honeywell

Honeywell recently confirmed the successful completion of its first spin off, with the Advanced Materials division now operating independently under the name Solstice Advanced Materials.

The move is described by the company as part of its broader shift to simplify its structure and support growth across specialised sectors.

The separation strategy launched in October 2024, when Honeywell outlined its intention to spin off the Advanced Materials business. By February 2025, the company announced the conclusion of a full-year strategic portfolio review led by Vimal Kapur with plans to also separate the Aerospace and Automation divisions.

Speaking at the time, Vimal said: “It reflects disciplined execution and reinforces our belief that a more focused portfolio will position Honeywell to deliver greater long-term value for shareowners and seize new opportunities to address more modern challenges for our customers.”

Honeywell’s strategic shift towards pure-play businesses signals a sharper direction across its operations. 

With new leadership at the helm and a renewed focus on standalone performance, Honeywell Aerospace steps into a more agile structure. As the company prepares to list the aerospace business publicly, the sector is watching to see how this refined focus translates to innovation, operational discipline and long-term growth.