Johnson Controls appoints Joakim Weidemanis as new CEO
Johnson Controls has confirmed the appointment of Joakim Weidemanis as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective from 12 March 2025.
George R. Oliver, the current CEO, will continue to serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board until 31 July 2025. He will then be succeeded by Mark P. Vergnano, who has been a board member since 2016. Oliver will remain an advisor to the company until the end of the year, ensuring a seamless leadership transition.
Weidemanis brings a wealth of experience from Danaher Corporation. At Danaher, he held significant leadership roles over 13 years, most recently as Executive Vice President, Diagnostics and China. Here, he oversaw operations of a group with approximately USD $15 billion in revenue through eight global technology enterprises. His previous roles also include time as Head of Product Inspection at Mettler Toledo and various positions at ABB.
Jürgen Tinggren, Lead Independent Director of the Johnson Controls Board, stated, "The Board identified Joakim as uniquely suited to lead Johnson Controls during its next chapter of growth as a pure-play provider of comprehensive solutions for commercial buildings. Joakim's approach to leading service-oriented businesses aligns well with both the Johnson Controls approach and our end-to-end operating model. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated remarkable ability as an operator of large global businesses, scaling both organically and inorganically, and is adept in shaping product portfolios and leveraging technology to deliver best-in-class financial performance."
He added, "As we have made substantial progress in our transformation, George has set the stage for Johnson Controls to capitalise on the opportunities ahead. On behalf of the Johnson Controls Board, we thank him for his remarkable leadership over the last eight years."
Weidemanis expressed enthusiasm about joining the company, saying, "As I come to know Johnson Controls, I am energised by its mission-driven culture and strong 140-year legacy of developing market-leading technology and solutions that enable customers to manage their facilities in a smarter, more sustainable and more productive way. I am deeply passionate about leading global technology-driven businesses that help customers advance their goals and make a meaningful, positive impact on society. I look forward to leveraging my experience and the foundation George and the team have built to deliver on the company's full potential for customers, employees and shareholders."
Current CEO George R. Oliver expressed confidence in Weidemanis' appointment, saying, "Joakim is the ideal person to lead Johnson Controls as CEO. The efforts we have made over the past eight years have transformed Johnson Controls into a simpler, more profitable and faster growing company better able to deliver on our financial and operational objectives. As we build on the momentum from fiscal 2024, I look forward to working with Joakim and the team to ensure a smooth leadership transition and a promising future for Johnson Controls."
Mark P. Vergnano, who will succeed Oliver as Chairman, has a long history of leadership, including previously serving as the CEO of Chemours Company and holding executive roles at DuPont. He is currently a director at Waters Corporation and has contributed to various industry organisations.
