ATLANTA - Ian Stewart Farwell, president and chief executive officer of the Rheem Manufacturing Co., has announced a major reorganization of the company's management team at the corporate level and at two of its three operating divisions, Water Heater and Air Conditioning.

According to Farwell, the reorganization will help Rheem "address the new realities" of customer, supplier, and competitor consolidation that have exerted an enormous and continuing impact on the plumbing and HVAC industries in recent years. "The new structure will allow us to work together and focus on our goals as one unified team.

"My vision is to begin to build a 'New Rheem,' to take a bold step into the future and to take this great company to new heights and new levels of excellence. The autonomous divisional structure that served us so well in the past will not be competitive in tomorrow's world. We need to establish different strategies for the world ahead and to leverage our synergies."

JR Jones has been promoted to corporate senior vice president and chief operating officer of Rheem Manufacturing Co. Reporting directly to Farwell, he will be based in Atlanta. He has overall responsibility for the Air Conditioning and Water Heater business units. Jones most recently was president of the Water Heater and Air Conditioning divisions.

Douglas Mannion has been promoted to the new position of vice president - general manager for the Water Heater Division. He will have overall responsibility for product planning, product management, sales management, customer service, and divisional marketing activities for the Water Heater Division, which includes the Tankless and Marathon businesses. Most recently, Mannion was vice president - controller for the Water Heater Division. He will be based in Montgomery, Ala.

Bill Hanesworth has been promoted to the new position of vice president - general manager for the Air Conditioning Division. He will have overall responsibility for product planning, product management, sales management, customer service, division marketing activities, and logistics for the Air Conditioning Division. Most recently, Hanesworth was vice president - sales for the Air Conditioning Division. He will be based out of Fort Smith, Ark. Also within the Air Conditioning Division, Jack Sinkler, former vice president - marketing for the division, will assume the role of vice president - sales, reporting to Hanesworth.

In addition, three new corporate positions, based in Atlanta, will report to Jones:

• Robert Roth, who had been serving as vice president - marketing for the Water Heater Division, has been named to the new position of corporate vice president - marketing.

• Alan Kessler has been named to the new position of corporate vice president - research and development. He will assume responsibility for R&D activities for both the Air Conditioning and Water Heater units.

• Bill Lux has been named to the new position of corporate vice president - business development, with responsibility for international sales and future business growth.

Four current managers now also report to Jones: Ken Jarosz, corporate vice president - strategic sourcing; Chuck Holt, Air Conditioning Division vice president - manufacturing; Dan Luehrs, Water Heater Division vice president - manufacturing; and Don Harter, director - replacement parts.

Farwell also announced that, in addition to Jones, four corporate managers are continuing to report to him: Simon Parfitt, corporate vice president - finance; Bill Ostan, corporate vice president - human resources; Peter Gelfman, corporate vice president, secretary and general counsel; and Tony Ots, president of the Raypak Division.

Rheem Manufacturing Co., headquartered in Atlanta, is a leading manufacturer of water heaters, heating and air conditioning equipment, pool and spa heaters, and boilers.

Publication date: 03/26/2007