ACHR News
search
Ask ACHR NEWS AI
cart
facebook twitter instagram linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHR News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • New HVAC Products
    • Featured Products
    • Manufacturer Reports
    • HVAC Data
    • Legislation
    • ACHR NEWS Centennial
  • RESIDENTIAL
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Residential Heat Pumps
    • Ductless
    • Residential IAQ
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Components & Accessories
  • COMMERCIAL
    • Air Handlers
    • Rooftop Units
    • Chillers and Cooling Towers
    • Commercial Heat Pumps
    • Boilers and Hydronics
    • VRF/Ductless
    • Commercial IAQ
  • REFRIGERATION
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Leak Management
  • CONTRACTOR PRO
    • Geothermal
    • Homeowner Study
    • VRF and VRV Ductless
    • Unitary Trends
  • EDUCATION
    • Training and Education
    • Business Management
    • Service and Maintenance
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research >
      • HVAC Brand Awareness Report
      • VRV, VRF, VRVZ Report
      • Unitary Trends Report
      • Water Heat Professionals Report
    • Webinars
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProducts Info
    • White Papers
  • EVENTS
    • HVAC Contractor Forum
    • Industry Events and Webinars
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • AHR Expo 2025 Videos
    • Podcasts >
      • ACHR News Podcast
      • HARDI Podcasts
      • AHR Expo Podcasts
      • ACCA Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Quizzes
    • eBooks
    • HVAC Talkback
  • HVAC GROUP
    • ACHR NEWS >
      • Current Issue
      • Digital Edition
      • Subscribe
    • Distribution Trends
    • SNIPS NEWS >
      • Join SNIPS NEWS
    • Engineered Systems News >
      • Join ES News
    • HVACR Directory
    • Contests
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • My Account
Manufacturer ReportsNewsHVAC Breaking News

Johnson Controls CEO Stepping Down

Move Comes After Significant Milestones in Portfolio Transformation

By The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff
Johnson Controls Logo.png
August 1, 2024

Johnson Controls (JCI) has announced that George R. Oliver has informed the Board of Directors that it is time to initiate the CEO succession plan following the company's substantial progress on its portfolio transformation, according to a press release. Oliver has led Johnson Controls' business and portfolio transformation since becoming Johnson Controls' chairman and CEO in 2017.

Accordingly, the Johnson Controls Board has begun a comprehensive search for the Company's next CEO with the assistance of a nationally recognized executive search firm to aide in the evaluation of internal and external candidates. Oliver will continue to serve as chairman and CEO until a successor is named and will remain chair of the Board once the new CEO is named to allow for a smooth management transition.

"It has been a true honor to serve as CEO of Johnson Controls. I am proud of the remarkable success we have achieved in recent years to position our company as a pure-play provider of comprehensive solutions for commercial buildings. As we approach the completion of our business transformation and move to the next phase of growth, I believe that now is the right time to begin the process of identifying the next leader of the new Johnson Controls," Oliver said in the press release. "Today, Johnson Controls is a leading provider of technology and solutions that make buildings smarter, creating a one-of-a-kind offering that drives value for customers and shareholders. Following this substantial milestone in our portfolio transformation, I am confident that Johnson Controls is solidly positioned for its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting the team to help ensure the Company achieves its full potential."

"On behalf of the Board, I thank George for his unwavering passion, leadership, and commitment to Johnson Controls over the last seven years and since our merger with Tyco," said Jürgen Tinggren, Johnson Controls lead independent director. "As chairman and CEO, George has successfully led Johnson Controls through a period of significant evolution, with a clear vision to optimize the Company to deliver greater value for our customers, employees, and our shareholders. The Board will work closely with George to conduct a thorough and comprehensive search to identify the best individual to lead the future of Johnson Controls."


BOARD REFRESHMENT

As part of the Company's ongoing Board refreshment efforts and following a constructive dialogue with Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Elliott"), Johnson Controls appointed Patrick Decker to serve on its Board, effective immediately, the release states. Decker previously served as president and CEO of Xylem Inc. prior to his retirement. With the appointment, the Board is comprised of 13 directors, 12 of whom are independent.

"Patrick is a fantastic addition of a world-class executive with experience transforming Xylem from an industrial products company to an advanced technology, services, and solutions enterprise," said Tinggren. "Patrick's appointment reflects our commitment to continuously refresh our board to ensure the skills and experiences of our directors appropriately reflect Johnson Controls' transforming business. We welcome Patrick to the Board and are excited to benefit from the experience and expertise he will bring."

"Over the last several years under George's leadership, Johnson Controls has built an industry-leading portfolio that provides unique and critical building solutions to its customers," said Marc Steinberg, Partner at Elliott. "As one of Johnson Controls' largest investors, we believe the leadership and board actions announced today along with the recent portfolio changes position the Company to realize the benefits of its transformation, enhance operational performance, and drive significant shareholder value creation. We appreciate the productive discussions we've had with George and his team and today's financial results make it clear that Johnson Controls is on the right path to capitalize on the opportunities ahead."

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →


ABOUT GEORGE OLIVER

Oliver is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Controls. Prior to becoming CEO on Sept. 1, 2017, he served as president and chief operating officer with responsibility for the company's operating businesses. He also led the integration of Johnson Controls and Tyco following their September 2016 merger.

Oliver previously served as CEO of Tyco and as a member of its Board of Directors from September 2012 through the September 2016 merger with Johnson Controls. He joined Tyco in July 2006 as president of Tyco Safety Products and assumed additional responsibility as president of Tyco Electrical & Metal Products from 2007 through 2010. He was appointed president of Tyco Fire Protection in 2011.

Prior to Tyco, Oliver had a more than 20-year career with General Electric (GE), where he served in operational roles of increasing responsibility in several divisions including as president and CEO of GE Water & Process Technologies and president and CEO of GE Engine Services, as well as previous leadership roles in GE's Aircraft Engines and Appliances divisions.

Oliver holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.


ABOUT PATRICK DECKER

Decker is the retired president and CEO of Xylem Inc., a leading water technology provider. Decker served as president and CEO from March 2014 through December 2023.

Prior to leading Xylem, Decker served as president and CEO of Harsco Corporation, a global industrial products company, from 2012 until 2014. Prior to Harsco, he served in various leadership roles at Tyco from 2003 until 2012, including as president of Tyco Flow Control, a global provider of industrial solutions to the energy and water sectors.

Prior to Tyco, Decker served with Bristol-Myers Squibb for 12 years in financial and operational roles, predominantly in its Latin America and Asia divisions. He started his career with Price Waterhouse LLP.

Decker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University.

 


KEYWORDS: HVAC industry news retirement succession planning

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • HVAC-enrollment

    The Trades Are Back: HVACR Programs See Nearly 30% Enrollment Spike

    A new wave of future technicians is entering the pipeline.  
    Training and Education
    By: Matt Jachman
  • 2025 Top 40 Under 40

    2025 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals List

    The 11th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlights those...
    HVAC Residential Market
    By: Hannah Belloli-Oster
  • LG Ductless Mini-Split Systems

    The 9 Types of Heat Pumps

    As the U.S. moves toward electrification, heat pumps are...
    HVAC Residential Market
    By: Joanna R. Turpin
Subscription Center
  • Create an Account
  • Start a Subscription
  • Manage My Account
  • Sign Up for Newsletters
  • Visit Customer Service
  • Update Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to The News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The News or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Piggy Bank
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Energy Prices, Inflation, and HVAC: What Today’s Homeowners Care About

  • Refrigerated Food
    Sponsored bySolstice Advanced Materials

    R-455A Refrigeration: A Cold Storage Solution for the Future

  • Airex Rooftop Units
    Sponsored byAirex Manufacturing Inc

    Consolidating Roof Penetrations: A Growing Trend in Multifamily HVAC Design

Popular Stories

HVAC-Price-Increase-graphic

HVAC Price Increase List: June 2026

Trump-Section-232.jpg

Trump Reduces Section 232 Tariffs on HVAC Equipment to 15%

R410A-Refrigerant-Cylinder.jpg

Refrigerant Recovery is a Revenue Opportunity

Heat-pump-cutaway.jpg

PFAS Rules and A2L Building Codes Continue to Evolve

Kroger.jpg

Kroger to Spend $100 Million to Reduce Refrigerant Leaks

View The ACHR NEWS
Centennial Anniversary Timeline

The ACHR News Timeline Chart
Submit a Letter
Submit a letter to our editors.

Events

November 6, 2025

Next-Gen Data Center Cooling: HVAC Innovation and Real-World Solutions

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

June 9, 2026

Before You Go All In on AI: Set Up Your Business to Actually Win

In this webinar, we'll walk you through exactly what to get in place before you add AI to your business. You'll leave with a clear picture of where you stand today and a practical action plan to set yourself up for real results.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Summer Staff

Are you fully staffed for the summer season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

See More Products
A2L Refrigerants - Free Webinar - May 21, 2026

Related Articles

  • George-Oliver

    President Biden Invites Johnson Controls’ CEO to Speak at Leaders Summit on Climate

    See More
  • George-Oliver

    Johnson Controls CEO Named Chair of Business Roundtable Energy & Environment Committee

    See More
  • Joakim Weidemanis.jpg

    Next Johnson Controls CEO to Take the Helm in March

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Digital Controls for HVAC Technicians

  • ghpm.png

    Gas Heating: Furnaces, Boilers, Controls, Components

  • Manual Q.jpg

    Manual Q - Low Pressure, Low Velocity Duct System Design

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • September 25, 2025

    Smarter HVACR Controls Lead to Improved Contractor Profits

    On Demand This session dives into practical strategies for controlling and monitoring multiple pieces of equipment at multiple locations, catching issues early, and streamlining maintenance, all while staying compliant with new A2L refrigerant safety requirements.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Johnson Controls (Manufacturer)

    As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable building technology, we are reimagining building performance to better serve people, places and the planet.
  • Johnson Controls (Software/Video)

    As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable building technology, we are reimagining building performance to better serve people, places and the planet.
×

Sign Up. Stay Informed.

The #1 trusted source for the HVACR industry since 1926

SUBSCRIBE
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Letter
    • Directories
    • Store
  • ACCOUNT CENTER
    • Create an Account
    • Start a Subscription
    • Manage My Account
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Visit Customer Service
    • Update Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing