Textron 2021 Proxy Statement

16 TEXTRON 2021 PROXY STATEMENT – T he current and future talent needs of each of our businesses are assessed annually through a formal talent review process which enables us to develop leadership succession plans and provide our employees with potential new career opportunities. In addition, leaders from functional areas within each business belong to enterprise-wide councils which conduct annual talent reviews. These processes enable us to fill talent needs by matching employees who are ready to assume significant leadership roles with opportunities that best fit their career paths, which may be in other businesses within the enterprise. • Working to increase the diversity of our workforce and supporting inclusive workplaces – T extron is committed to having a diverse workforce and inclusive workplaces throughout our global operations. We believe by employing highly talented, diverse employees, who feel valued, respected and are able to contribute fully, we will improve performance, innovation and collaboration and drive talent retention, all of which contribute to stronger business results and reinforce our reputation as leaders in our industries and communities. – For over a decade, Textron has allocated five percent of annual incentive compensation for management-level employees toward achievement of diversity goals. As described in the CD&A, beginning in 2020, we focused these goals specifically on hiring diversity and took various actions to improve our outreach to diverse candidates. Each year we publish a Corporate Responsibility Report which highlights the actions we have taken during the past year in these and other environmental, social and governance focus areas. The report is available on our website at Textron.com/CorpResponsibility/corporate-responsibility-report. Information in the Corporate Responsibility Report and on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement or considered to be part of this document. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD Shareholders or other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors, the Lead Director, the non- management directors as a group or with any individual director may do so by calling (866) 698-6655 (toll-free) or (401) 457-2269, writing to Board of Directors at Textron Inc., 40 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, or by e-mail to textrondirectors@textron.com . The telephone numbers and addresses are also listed on the Textron website. All communications received via the above methods will be sent to the Board of Directors, the Lead Director, the non- management directors or the specified director. DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS Nominees suggested by shareholders will be communicated to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration in the committee’s selection process. Shareholder-recommended candidates are evaluated using the same criteria used for other candidates. The committee also periodically retains a third-party search firm to assist in the identification and evaluation of candidates. Textron’s By-Laws contain a provision which imposes certain requirements upon nominations for directors made by shareholders, including proxy access nominees, at the annual meeting of shareholders or a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected. Shareholders wishing to nominate an individual for director at the annual meeting must submit timely notice of nomination within the time limits described below, under the heading “Shareholder Proposals and Other Matters for 2022 Annual Meeting” on page 61, to the committee, c/o Textron’s Secretary, along with the information described in our By-Laws. All candidates are evaluated against the Board’s needs and the criteria for membership to the Board set forth above. The committee must also take into account our By-Laws which provide, without provision for exemption, condition or waiver, that no person shall be elected a director who has attained the age of 75. In addition, the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies provide that a substantial majority of the Company’s directors must be independent under the standards of the New York Stock Exchange. All recommendations of nominees to the Board by the committee are made solely on the basis of merit.