SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 19, 2011
A. O. Smith Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 1-475 | 39-0619790 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
11270 West Park Place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224-9508
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(414) 359-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 204.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13-e4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers. |
On August 19, 2011, A. O. Smith Corporation (“the Company”) announced that Ajita G. Rajendra has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective September 1, 2011. Mr. Rajendra joined the Company as president of A. O. Smith Water Products Company in 2005 and was named executive vice president of the Company in 2006. As a result, Paul W. Jones, who had been serving as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, will continue to serve with the title of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
The following exhibit is being filed herewith:
| 99.1 | A. O. Smith Corporation News Release dated August 19, 2011. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | ||||
| Date: August 19, 2011 | By: | /s/ James F. Stern | ||
| James F. Stern Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
Exhibit Index to Current Report on Form 8-K Dated August 19, 2011
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | News Release of A. O. Smith Corporation, dated August 19, 2011. | |
Exhibit 99.1
August 19, 2011
A. O. Smith names Rajendra president, chief operating officer
Milwaukee, Wis.—A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS) today announced that Ajita G. Rajendra has been named president and chief operating officer, effective Sept 1.
Rajendra will be responsible for A. O. Smith’s water heater operations in North America, China, Europe, and India as well as the company’s water purification business in China. The $1.5 billion business has 17 manufacturing plants around the world and employs approximately 10,000 people.
In addition, Rajendra will be responsible for the Lochinvar global boiler business, once the acquisition of that company is complete. He also will oversee A. O. Smith’s global technology centers focused on research, development, and product engineering, and the corporation’s information technology function.
“With his extensive experience, in-depth knowledge of our business, and passionate interest in customer satisfaction, Ajita Rajendra is the ideal person to take on this challenging new assignment,” Paul W. Jones, chairman and chief executive officer, said in making the announcement. “Under his leadership, our Water Products Company has achieved record sales and profitability. He has been instrumental in growing our market share in China and entering the important India water heater market.”
Jones will remain chairman and chief executive officer and will continue to lead the business transformation to a global water technology company. In addition to operations under Rajendra, Jones will retain responsibility for the corporation’s finance, human resources, legal, and corporate development areas.
Rajendra joined A. O. Smith as president of its Water Products Company in January 2005. He was named an executive vice president of the corporation in 2006.
Rajendra has held a wide range of finance, operations, marketing, and executive management positions throughout his 35-year career. Prior to joining A. O. Smith, he was senior vice president of Kennametal, Inc., of Latrobe, Pa., a manufacturer of industrial cutting tools.
Rajendra holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Rajendra is a member of the Board of Directors of Donaldson Company, a manufacturer of filtration products headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment, offering a comprehensive product line featuring the best-known brands in North America and China.