Trane Commercial Systems division sales account for $3 billion of the company’s $4.7 billion air conditioning business. Fred Poses, chairman and ceo of American Standard, is to lead the business until a successor is named.

According to American Standard, Schultz will complete a few important projects and will work closely with Poses to ensure a successful transition.

“Jim has been instrumental in making our commercial air conditioning business successful,” said Poses. “Trane Commercial Systems is now the market leader in systems and services in the U.S., and has a strong presence in markets globally. Jim has created a strong organization that will ensure that Trane remains a customer-focused leader in the industry.”

Schultz has spent more than 30 years with Trane. During his tenure, he led the transformation of the division’s applied air conditioning group from a North American-focused business to a globally-focused business.

Schultz joined the company in 1970 and served in a number of sales management positions. In 1981 he was promoted to vice president of operations for the Trane Thermal business unit. Two years later, he was given divisional responsibility as vice president and general manager of the Applied Unitary Refrigeration Systems business.

Schultz was made an officer of the company in 1985, and was promoted to executive vice president of Applied Global Systems with responsibility for applied products worldwide in 1997.