NATION

James J. Renier, vice chairman of Honeywell, has been elected to the new positions of president and chief operating officer of the diversified technology giant. Renier, 56, joined Minneapolis-based Honeywell in 1956 as a senior research scientist and has been vice chairman since 1982.

Renier will report to Edson Spencer, chairman and chief executive, who said: “The election of Jim Renier to this new position will enable me to focus on Honeywell’s long-range opportunities.”