ATLANTA - Ian Stewart Farwell, president and CEO of the Rheem Manufacturing Co., announced a large 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 had a noticeable and continuing effect on the plumbing and HVAC industries in recent years.

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

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 business.

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. 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 has been named to the new position of corporate vice president-marketing, and Alan Kessler has been named to the new position of corporate vice president-research and development. He will assume responsibility for research and development 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; 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.

“The new structure will allow us to work together and focus on our goals as one unified team,” said Farwell. “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.”

For more information, visit www.rheem.com.

Publication date: 04/16/2007