UTC names new president of Otis Elevator

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - United Technologies Corp. has announced the appointment of Pedro Baranda as the new president of its Otis Elevator Co. subsidiary.

UTC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Louis Chenevert said in a statement Tuesday that the 48-year-old Baranda has a deep knowledge of the industry, technical expertise and strong international experience.

Baranda will take the helm of Farmington, Conn.-based Otis after having served most recently as president of the elevator company's South Europe and Middle East area. He succeeds Didier Michaud-Daniel, who is heading to France to become chief executive officer of Bureau Veritas.

Hartford-based UTC hired Baranda in 1993 as a research engineer at the United Technologies Research Center in Madrid, Spain. He transferred to Otis as principal engineer in 1997 and has held several executive positions in the company.