Wesley Bush. Credit: Northrop Grumman

Ronald Sugar, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. since 2003, will step down at the end of the year. Wesley Bush, Northropโ€™s president and chief operation officer, will take over as chief executive. Lewis Coleman will lead Northropโ€™s board of directors as a non-executive chairman.

Sugar, who has been with Northrop Grumman and its legacy companies for 29 years, will continue advising the company until retiring in June.