CLEVELAND, OHIO...Eaton Corporation today announced that Adrian T. Dillon, 41, has been elected vice president-chief financial and planning officer, effective September 1, 1995. Dillon, currently vice president-planning, will succeed Stephen R. Hardis, who will become Eaton's chief executive officer on that date. As previously announced, Hardis will also become Eaton's chairman of the board on January 1, 1996, when William E. Butler retires.

In his new position, Dillon will have responsibility for the accounting, corporate development, information systems, strategic planning, treasury and controller functions.

Dillon joined Eaton in 1979 as senior economist and in 1982 was named chief economist. He added the title of manager of corporate strategy in 1984, and was promoted to director of financial strategy and chief economist in 1986. In 1988, Dillon was elected assistant treasurer and chief economist, and was elected vice president-planning, in 1991.

Dillon currently serves as chairman of the Board of Managers of Eaton VORAD Technologies, a 50-50 joint venture with IVHS Technologies that manufactures radar-based collision warning systems. He is also active in Cleveland-area civic and charitable programs, and chaired Eaton's United Way campaign at its Cleveland headquarters during the past two years.

Eaton Corporation is a global manufacturer of highly engineered products which serve vehicle, industrial, construction, commercial, aerospace and marine markets. Principal products include truck transmissions and axles, engine components, hydraulic products, electrical power distribution and control equipment, ion implanters and a wide variety of controls. Headquartered at Eaton Center in Cleveland, the company has 52,000 employees and 150 manufacturing sites in 22 countries around the world. Sales for 1994 were $6.1 billion.