A. O. Smith Corporation has announced the appointment of Stephen Shafer as its new President and Chief Operating Officer, effective March 18, 2024. This decision marks a significant leadership change as the company looks to leverage Shafer’s experience to oversee its global business units encompassing operations, engineering, and IT.
Stephen Shafer brings a wealth of experience, having joined 3M Company in 2010 where he held various positions in the U.S. and China. Most recently, he served as President of 3M's Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division. Before his tenure at 3M, Shafer worked at McKinsey & Company and Ford Motor Company, focusing on manufacturing, supply chain, and operational improvement. His academic background includes an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University.
Alongside his appointment, Shafer will be relocating from Minneapolis to the Milwaukee area to assume his new role. According to investor.aosmith.com, this strategic move is aimed at enhancing A. O. Smith's performance and driving continued growth in sales and profitability.