Gregory Hayes
| Gregory J. Hayes | |
| Born | Template:Birth year and age |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Title | Executive Chairman, RTX Corporation |
| Known for | Former Chairman and CEO of RTX Corporation |
Gregory J. Hayes (born c. 1960/1961) is an American business executive who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RTX Corporation, described as the world's largest aerospace and defense company. As of March 2025, Hayes holds the position of executive chairman of the board of directors of RTX Corporation.[1] Over the course of a career spanning several decades in the aerospace and defense industry, Hayes rose through the ranks of United Technologies Corporation and its successor entity, RTX Corporation, to lead one of the largest defense contractors in the world. His tenure at the helm of the company encompassed a period of significant corporate transformation, including the landmark merger that created RTX Corporation. In 2025, Hayes was named to the board of directors of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a global medical technology company, reflecting his continued prominence in American corporate governance.[1]
Career
RTX Corporation
Gregory Hayes built his career within the aerospace and defense sector, ultimately ascending to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RTX Corporation. RTX Corporation is recognized as the world's largest aerospace and defense company, a status it achieved through the 2020 merger of United Technologies Corporation and Raytheon Company. Hayes played a central role in the corporate leadership during this transformative period for the company.
As of March 2025, Hayes, then 64 years old, held the title of executive chairman of the board of directors of RTX Corporation.[1] In this capacity, he continued to provide strategic oversight and governance leadership for the corporation. The role of executive chairman typically involves active participation in the company's strategic direction while the day-to-day operational responsibilities are handled by the chief executive officer.
RTX Corporation, under Hayes's leadership, maintained its position as a major contractor for the United States Department of Defense and allied nations, with business segments spanning aerospace systems, defense systems, and advanced technologies. The company's portfolio includes well-known brands and subsidiaries involved in the manufacture of aircraft engines, avionics, cybersecurity solutions, missiles, and other defense and commercial aerospace products.
Board Service at BD
In March 2025, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a global medical technology company, announced the appointment of Gregory Hayes to its board of directors. At the time of his appointment, BD highlighted Hayes's role as executive chairman of the board of directors of RTX Corporation, the world's largest aerospace and defense company.[1] The appointment to BD's board represented an expansion of Hayes's corporate governance activities beyond the aerospace and defense sector into the medical technology industry. Board appointments of this nature are common among senior executives of major corporations, as their experience in managing large, complex, global enterprises is considered valuable for corporate governance across industries.
Recognition
Gregory Hayes's leadership of RTX Corporation and its predecessor entities placed him among the most prominent executives in the American aerospace and defense industry. His role overseeing one of the world's largest defense contractors brought significant visibility in both business and policy circles. The appointment to the board of directors of BD, a major medical technology company, in March 2025 further underscored his standing in the broader American corporate community.[1]
References