UTC Aerospace Systems named David Gitlin as president of the business's aircraft systems segment this week, after its previous head, Curtis Reusser, left the company Thursday to lead a competing firm in Washington state.

The shakeup comes weeks after a similar high-level move at Pratt & Whitney, another division of United Technologies Corp., after its current head announced his retirement. This executive, Paul Adams, and Gitlin both report to Alain Bellemare, chief executive of UTC Propulsion & Aerospace Systems.

Bellemaire said in a written statement that Gitlin, 44, is "exceptionally well qualified to takeover leadership" of the business, having served as a vice president of various departments at Hamilton Sundstrand since the company merged operations with Goodrich in 2011.

"Dave and Curtis have worked hand in hand since the beginning of the integration and I am confident in Dave's ability to lead the Aircraft Systems business segment into the future," Bellemaire said.

Gitlin joined UTC in 1997 in the company's legal department. He was previously Hamilton Sundstrand's president for business development.

Reusser, a former Goodrich executive who led UTC Aerospace Systems since the merger, left the firm this week to become chief executive of Esterline, an aerospace and defense manufacturer based in Bellevue, Wash. Before his time at UTC and Goodrich, he worked for General Dynamics, the parent company of Electric Boat.

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UTC Aerospace Systems Names New Aircraft President