MILWAUKEE, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A. O. Smith
Corporation (NYSE:AOS) today announced that Kevin J. Wheeler has been named president and chief
operating officer.
In his new role, Wheeler will be responsible for A. O. Smith's global water heater and boiler
operations as well as its global water treatment business. He also will oversee the company's research function including
its Corporate Technology Center in Milwaukee as well as the information technology
function. Wheeler will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ajita G. Rajendra.
The $2.69 billion company has 20 manufacturing plants and 10 product engineering facilities
around the world and employs approximately 15,500 people.
Since 2013, Wheeler has served as senior vice president, president and general manager of North
America, India, and Europe water heating, A. O. Smith's largest operating unit.
"With his extensive experience, in-depth knowledge of our businesses, and passionate interest in customer satisfaction,
Kevin Wheeler is the ideal person to take on this challenging new assignment," Rajendra said in
making the announcement. "Under his leadership, our North American water heater business has achieved record sales and
profitability.
"Kevin also brings extensive international experience and has been instrumental in growing that part of our business, first as
managing director of our European operations, then leading our China business, and subsequently,
the entry into the Indian market."
"I am confident he will continue to be a major contributor as A. O. Smith pursues its strategy
of becoming a leading global water technology company."
Wheeler brings 23 years of company experience to his new position. He joined A. O. Smith
in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company. In 1999, he was named managing director of A. O.
Smith Water Products Company B.V., headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. In that role, he was responsible for the
company's water heater business in Europe and the Middle
East.
Wheeler returned to the U.S. in 2004 to serve as vice president-international with responsibility for all European and Asian
operations. During this time, the company expanded its business in China and began
evaluation of the Indian residential water heater market.
In 2007, he was named senior vice president and general manager of the U.S. retail business for the Water Products
Company. In that position, he oversaw all aspects of the U.S. retail business including sales, marketing, manufacturing,
product engineering, and customer service.
Wheeler was named senior vice president and general manager of the North America,
India, and Europe water heating business in 2011 and became
president of that business in 2013.
He has been active in a number of industry associations, most recently serving as an at-large director of the
Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno and the Advanced Management Program at
Harvard University.
About A. O. Smith
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader
applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company
is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a
leading manufacturer of water treatment products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.
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SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation