Senior Executives at Johnson Controls Appointed to New Leadership Posts
18 January 2001
Senior Executives at Johnson Controls Appointed to New Leadership Posts
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Jan. 18 Automotive interior supplier
Johnson Controls has promoted two executives to new positions,
effective immediately.
Jeffrey Steiner, has been appointed vice president of consumer research
and new product development, North America, and Bill Fluharty, has been named
vice president of industrial design, North America, for the company's
Automotive Systems Group. The announcement was made today by Rande Somma,
president of North America for the Automotive Systems Group.
"We welcome the talent and energy that Jeff Steiner and Bill Fluharty
bring to our leadership team," said Somma. "These appointments further
strengthen Johnson Controls' commitment to adding value through consumer
research, industrial design, and product development that focuses on
innovation."
Steiner, 36, joined Johnson Controls in 1993 and has served since 1999 as
general manager of the company's Specialty Products Group. In his new role, he
will direct Johnson Controls' long-term product development activities. In
addition, Steiner is charged with ensuring that the company anticipates and
responds to the "voice of the consumer" throughout the product development
process.
Fluharty, 39, joined Johnson Controls in 1984 and most recently served as
the company's director of advanced/new product development design. In his new
position, he will lead industrial design activities in North America for
Johnson Controls. In addition, Fluharty will work in close collaboration with
the company's European industrial design team.
Prior to 1999, Steiner served in a series of management positions at
Johnson Controls in the areas of business development and worldwide marketing
communications. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Michigan State
University (MSU), and currently attends the MSU Executive Master's Degree in
Business Administration program.
Fluharty earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in industrial design from
Wayne State University. He holds seven automotive patents, and is a member of
the Design Management Institute.
The Plymouth, Michigan (U.S.A.)-based automotive business of Johnson
Controls -- which employs more than 77,000 people at 285 facilities worldwide
-- achieved US$12.7 billion in sales for the 2000 fiscal year. In model-year
2001, it will supply interior products for more than 23 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls,
founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (U.S.A.). Its sales
for 2000 totaled US$17.2 billion.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Jeffrey Steiner and Bill Fluharty can be
obtained by calling Debra Lacey of Johnson Controls at 734-254-5735.
For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and additional company
information, visit the company's web site on the World Wide Web at
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com .
CONTACT: Bill Dawson, 734-254-5925, or Debra Lacey, 734-254-5735, both of
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.