March 25 (Reuters) - Honeywell ( HON ) said on Tuesday

it has appointed David Sewell to lead its advanced materials

business, which is set to be spun off into an independently

listed company by late this year or early 2026.

The industrial giant had announced the spin-off in October

as it looked to simplify its business. The unit would be named

Solstice Advanced Materials and focus exclusively on sustainable

specialty chemicals and materials.

Honeywell ( HON ) is also set to separate its aerospace and

automation businesses, splitting one of America's last standing

conglomerates into three independent firms.

Sewell will join as the president and chief executive

officer of the advanced materials business, effective

immediately, and is expected to retain the title after the spin

off is completed.

He has more than 30 years of experience in the materials and

chemicals industries and was most recently the CEO of packaging

firm WestRock Company, which was acquired by Irish rival Smurfit

Kappa in an $11 billion deal.

Honeywell ( HON ) has also appointed insider Tina Pierce as the

chief financial officer of the unit, effective May 1. She is

also expected to retain the title after the spin-off.

Pierce, who has worked at Honeywell ( HON ) for more than 25 years,

is currently the CFO of its industrial automation segment.

Separately, Rajeev Gautam has been selected as the

non-executive chairman of the board, effective on completion of

the spin.

"Rajeev's 43-year career as a leader in Honeywell's ( HON ) process

technologies and advanced materials businesses, combined with

David's experience overseeing a multi-year transformation

strategy as CEO of a publicly traded company make them the ideal

leaders," said Honeywell ( HON ) CEO Vimal Kapur.

Solstice Advanced Materials will be headquartered in Morris

Plains, New Jersey.