Textron has named Lisa Atherton, the head of its Bell helicopter division, as the company’s next president and chief executive officer. She will succeed longtime CEO Scott Donnelly on January 4, 2026, the company announced. Donnelly, who has led Textron for 17 years, will stay on as executive chairman of the board.
Atherton has spent nearly two decades with Textron, holding senior leadership roles across its aviation and defense businesses. A US Air Force Academy graduate, she began her career as an Air Force officer specializing in acquisition and program management before joining Textron Systems in 2007. She later became vice president of military business development at Bell and was promoted to president and CEO of the division in 2017.
Under her leadership, Bell advanced major programs including the V-280 Valor tiltrotor, selected by the US Army for its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program, and the 360 Invictus armed reconnaissance helicopter. Atherton also oversaw efforts to expand Bell’s global commercial presence and strengthen customer support operations.
“As a member of Textron’s executive leadership team for over eight years, we witnessed Lisa play a key role in driving growth across her businesses and winning critical programs,” said R. Kerry Clark, Lead Director of Textron’s board. “On behalf of the board, we look forward to working with her even more closely as she leads the company through this next phase of execution.”
In a statement, Atherton said she was honored by the appointment. “It has been a privilege to serve as Bell’s president and CEO,” she said. “I am excited to become president and CEO of Textron, and I look forward to working with Scott, the board and our global teams to bring our innovative technologies and products to customers and create value for shareholders.”
Donnelly joined Textron in 2008 after a long career at General Electric and became CEO the following year. During his tenure, Textron acquired Beechcraft, merging it with Cessna to form Textron Aviation, and expanded its defense and industrial portfolios through Bell, Textron Systems, and Arctic Cat. Earlier this month, the company announced it would dissolve its short-lived eAviation business unit and fold those programs into its other divisions beginning in 2026.
The leadership change marks a generational shift at Textron, whose brands span aviation, defense, and industrial markets. Atherton becomes the first woman to lead Textron in its 100-year history. The company employs about 34,000 people and reported $13.7 billion in revenue last year.
Donnelly praised his successor and expressed confidence in the company’s direction. “It has been an honor to serve as Textron’s CEO,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with Lisa and the company in my role as executive chair.”
