Milwaukee, Wis. – A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS), one of
the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating
equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air
purification products, today announced the retirement of John J. Kita and the appointment
of Charles T. Lauber as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 1, 2019. Kita
and Lauber will work together in the coming months to ensure a smooth and
seamless transition.
“In
his 19 years with A. O. Smith, Chuck Lauber has proven to be an invaluable
resource to the organization. Holding
significant leadership roles in both corporate and business unit finance and accounting,
and most recently as SVP of Corporate Development and Strategy, Chuck has
played a key role in helping to guide A. O. Smith to its current success. He
has our utmost confidence as he assumes this critical role for our company,”
said Kevin Wheeler, President and CEO. “I want to thank John Kita for his 30
years of tireless and inspiring work with A. O. Smith, including the instrumental
role he played in transforming A. O. Smith into a water technology company, and
wish him well in retirement.”
As
Chief Financial Officer, Lauber will be responsible for all financial functions
of the company, including financial reporting, treasury, investor relations,
capital structure, risk management and capital allocation.
Prior
to joining A. O. Smith as director of audit and tax in 1999, Lauber held a
number of audit and management roles as a senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting from the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at
Northwestern University.