Danfoss has announced that Fabio Klein has been named Divisional President of the Commercial Compressors division in Danfoss Climate Solutions. Fabio will take his new position as of April 1, 2025, as he succeeds Kristian Strand, who was recently appointed President of Danfoss Climate Solutions. Fabio currently serves as the Senior Vice President of the Scroll and Reciprocating Compressors business Read more
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Danfoss has announced that Fabio Klein has been named Divisional President of the Commercial Compressors division in Danfoss Climate Solutions. Fabio will take his new position as of April 1, 2025, as he succeeds Kristian Strand, who was recently appointed President of Danfoss Climate Solutions.
Fabio currently serves as the Senior Vice President of the Scroll and Reciprocating Compressors business within Commercial Compressors. Since joining Danfoss in 2016 as Vice President of Global R&D for Commercial Compressors, he transitioned into his current role in 2020.
“I’m proud to pass on the compressor business, which is performing stronger and is better positioned than ever before. I am happy that Commercial Compressors will be in good hands with Fabio. Under his leadership, the Scroll and Reciprocating Compressors division has become a global leader in air conditioning, heat pumps, and refrigeration solutions. The division has effectively released scroll compressors for natural and lowGWP refrigerants and has developed energy-efficient award-winning technology,” says Kristian Strand. “Fabio is a highly competent and visionary leader who understands every detail of our compressor business. Since joining Danfoss, he has consistently demonstrated the right mindset and skill set to elevate our compressor business to the next level. I look forward to seeing Fabio continue to drive the business forward.”
“It is an honor to succeed Kristian in this role and to have the opportunity to lead the exceptional team in Commercial Compressors. I am both excited and humbled by this responsibility,” Fabio stated. “I look forward to collaborating with everyone across the division to continue driving success for our customers.”
With 27 years of global experience in the HVAC-R industry, Fabio also serves as the chairman of the board for Asercom (Association of European Refrigeration Component Manufacturers).
Viega is pleased to announce the appointment of Marki Huston as the permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Viega North America, effective immediately. This decision follows an extensive and deliberate search process to identify a leader who embodies our commitment to operational excellence, industry innovation and long-term growth. Huston has served as interim CEO since Read more
Viega is pleased to announce the appointment of Marki Huston as the permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Viega North America, effective immediately. This decision follows an extensive and deliberate search process to identify a leader who embodies our commitment to operational excellence, industry innovation and long-term growth.
Huston has served as interim CEO since October 2024, during which time she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep understanding of our business operations and a steadfast dedication to our people, customers and partners. Her previous roles include Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Viega North America and Vice President of Global Quality in the aerospace industry. Her strategic vision and focus on fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration have reinforced her capability to guide Viega North America toward continued success.
In her expanded role, Huston will also join the Viega Group Board, further aligning North American operations with the broader strategic goals of the global organization. This integration will ensure continued investment in the growth of our business, enhanced customer experiences and the development of innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the building industry. The leadership structure of Viega North America will remain consistent, ensuring continuity while supporting the organization’s long-term strategic goals.
“Marki Huston has shown exceptional leadership and commitment during her time at Viega and interim tenure as CEO, making her the ideal choice to lead Viega North America into the future. Her deep understanding of the business, operational expertise and focus on results will drive continued success in the U.S. and Canadian markets,” shared Markus Brettschneider, Global CEO of Viega Group, “I look forward to the continued growth and great work of the team under Marki’s leadership.”
This appointment underscores Viega’s future-oriented commitment to our customers, employees and partners, “I am honored to step into the role of CEO for Viega North America and lead this incredible team as we continue to deliver on our purpose and ambitious goals. Our people, our customers and our innovative solutions are at the heart of everything we do, and I’m excited to build on the strong foundation we’ve created to drive even greater success in the years ahead,” said Huston. With Huston at the helm, Viega North America aims to continue delivering industry-leading solutions, ensuring the highest level of quality and a steadfast dedication to sustainable manufacturing practices.
The manufacturer added 9 new Ambassadors and 2 All-Star Ambassadors to its award-winning social media program, which continues to expand its impact Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, recently announced that its 2025 social media Ambassador Program will include nine newly added plumbing influencers and four returning Ambassadors. In addition Read more
The manufacturer added 9 new Ambassadors and 2 All-Star Ambassadors to its award-winning social media program, which continues to expand its impact
Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, recently announced that its 2025 social media Ambassador Program will include nine newly added plumbing influencers and four returning Ambassadors. In addition, the company designated two of its tenured Ambassadors as prestigious All-Star Ambassadors.
The 2025 class of new Oatey Ambassadors includes Clayton Deeds, Leon Garrett, Mike Caruso, Alan Carlson, Mary-Anne Bowcott, Brian Joyce, Jose Lopez, Keith McGillivary and Zachary Edmond, collectively representing a diverse range of plumbing and building expertise from across North America. The new Ambassadors join returning Oatey Ambassadors Tucker Baney, Nick Hotujec, David Williams, Rob Lupton, Schuyler Mooney and Grant Blundell, as well as several influential alumni Ambassadors.
Oatey Ambassadors are passionate advocates who showcase Oatey and its family of brands through engaging, authentic social media content and activity. Acting as an extension of the Oatey team, Ambassadors collaborate on various initiatives such as social media campaigns, giveaways, trade shows, podcasts, and more to share the story behind Oatey products.
Each year, Ambassadors are invited to attend a two-day event at Oatey University, the company’s premier training center. This immersive experience, known as Ambassador Fest, offers hands-on training, in-depth product discussions, a tour of Oatey’s manufacturing operations, and a visit to Oatey’s world headquarters to meet with associates.
Oatey’s newly designated All-Star Ambassadors include Evan Berns and Shay Lorette, who join existing All-Stars Danielle Browne, Thomas Young, Robert Broccolo and Germaine Nelson. Each of these Ambassadors has been part of the Oatey Ambassador Program for at least two years, displaying an impressive passion for Oatey and a commitment to the Ambassador Program and the plumbing community at large. As All-Star Ambassadors, the influencers remain in the Ambassador Program beyond its standard two-year duration, continuing to enjoy program perks in addition to enhanced partnership opportunities with Oatey.
Over the past year, Oatey has expanded its commitment to supporting Ambassadors in their home territories. This includes an “Oatey on the Road” social media series that spotlights Ambassadors on the job and Oatey swag giveaways for Ambassadors to gift to their local supply houses. The company plans to further expand these initiatives in 2025 as part of its efforts to support Ambassadors online and offline as they grow their businesses and brands.
“Oatey is proud to collaborate with such an incredible group of skilled plumbing professionals through our Ambassador Program,” said Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oatey. “As the program continues to evolve, we are sincerely thankful for the dedication and enthusiasm of our Ambassadors. Their passion for Oatey and the work they do inspires us every day. We remain committed to championing their talents, supporting their growth in the industry, and amplifying their voices across the platforms where they publish.”
Individuals interested in becoming a future Oatey Ambassador can submit their information on the Oatey website for consideration. For additional information about Oatey’s Ambassador Program, visit oatey.com.
Caleffi North America is pleased to announce Yates Timmerman as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Central United States. Timmerman brings a depth of knowledge, having worked at the wholesale, rep and manufacturer levels throughout his career. He is based in the Denver area. “Yates will step into this territory and do a great Read more
Caleffi North America is pleased to announce Yates Timmerman as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Central United States. Timmerman brings a depth of knowledge, having worked at the wholesale, rep and manufacturer levels throughout his career. He is based in the Denver area.
“Yates will step into this territory and do a great job. He has the skillset and understanding of what is needed at each level of the sales channel. He will be a valuable member of our sales team as we continue to build,” said Roger Corrente, Vice President of Sales.
Timmerman is a natural fit for the Caleffi sales team, bringing a well-rounded knowledge of hydronic and plumbing systems. Most recently, he spent over four years in a regional sales role at Rheem and IBC Technologies. Previously, he worked in outside sales at TM Sales Inc. for over five years. He brings a customer-first sales approach and prides himself on always learning more about the industry to help with the sales support process. He is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys skiing and rafting.
Caleffi looks forward to Timmerman working in a region in which he is very familiar. Originally from Wisconsin and a graduate of both the University of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University in Denver. He will cover Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Please join us in welcoming Yates Timmerman as part of the Caleffi family.
A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces three significant updates on the North America Water Heating sales team. After 34 years with A. O. Smith, Mark Gierla, vice president of Eastern region sales, will retire on April 1, 2025. Matt Patterson, national accounts director, will be promoted Read more
A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces three significant updates on the North America Water Heating sales team. After 34 years with A. O. Smith, Mark Gierla, vice president of Eastern region sales, will retire on April 1, 2025. Matt Patterson, national accounts director, will be promoted to vice president of Western region sales in January 2025 as part of this transition. Jerry Lapour, sales director, will move into Patterson’s role.
Mark Gierla
Gierla joined A. O. Smith in 1990 as district manager. He relocated several times and assumed various sales roles along the way. In 2007, he moved to the Nashville area, and in 2010, he was promoted to the newly created role of vice president of regional sales. During his tenure, he’s helped launch some of the company’s most important product innovations — most notably, the Cyclone® commercial water heater, which still leads the industry today. Going forward, Gierla’s role will be split between the regional vice president Western sales and the regional vice president Eastern sales.
“We thank Mark for his dedication to our organization, his tenacity and his skill to drive the business forward,” said Chuck Dean, vice president of wholesale sales.
Matt Patterson
Patterson has been with the company for 12 years and has worked as a technical sales specialist in factory sales in Tennessee, a regional sales manager in the Northwest U.S. and most recently as national accounts director. He also spent two years on the A. O. Smith mobile marketing vehicle showcasing new products to wholesalers around the country.
Lapour joined A. O. Smith in 2023 and comes with many years of industry experience. He most recently worked for Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, managing the north central region. Prior to that, he worked with Elkay Manufacturing for 17 years, with responsibilities including regional sales manager for the North Central U.S. and national account responsibility for Winsupply, where he received the “Account Manager of the Year” award in 2020. LaPour is also a veteran and served with the XVIII Airborne Corps in Desert Storm.
Jerry Lapour
“Having experienced leaders ready to assume these new roles is of great benefit to the organization and I am confident these transitions will be seamless,” said Dean.