Stephen M. Shafer

Stephen Shafer was named chairman of the A. O. Smith board of directors on July 1, 2026, and president and chief executive officer on July 1, 2025. He has responsibility for the company’s global business, as well as strategy development and implementation, profitability and shareholder returns.

Prior to becoming chairman and chief executive officer, Steve served president and chief operating officer from March 2025 to July 2025. Steve was elected to the A. O. Smith Board of Directors in July 2025 and was responsible for A. O. Smith’s global business units, including operations, supply chain, corporate technology and information technology.

Prior to becoming president and COO, Steve was president of the Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division for 3M Company from August 2020. After joining 3M Company in 2010, he held several positions with increasing levels of responsibility in multiple 3M business units. From October 2016, he served as president of Greater China Area and managing director of 3M China. He returned to the United States in 2019 to serve as senior vice president and chief strategy officer with responsibility for leading strategy, business development, marketing and sales globally for 3M.

Prior to 3M, Steve was a consultant at McKinsey & Company advising industrial businesses on strategy and operational improvement and held several operational roles at Ford Motor Company and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Steve is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of WorkBoard Inc. He previously served as board member of Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce and as a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.