Emerson (St. Louis): The company announced key executive changes at Appleton Group, part of its Automation Solutions business. Effective immediately, 25-year electrical industry veteran Andy Schwegel has been promoted to vice president of International & Industrial/Commercial sales. Harish Shinde has been promoted to succeed Schwegel as vice president/general manager of Sola and Heating Cable Systems. Joe Ugarte has been promoted to vice president of Hazardous. The firm also announced the retirement of John Peterson, executive vice president of Global Sales, after sixteen years with Emerson.
Schwegel, in his new role, will be responsible for global sales growth and operations outside the United States, along with management of international industrial/commercial business and relationship management of Emerson channel partners. In his 16-year tenure with Emerson Schwegel has held increasingly responsible positions, primarily in marketing, business development and sales management. Before joining Emerson, Schwegel gained industry experience working for Eaton Corporation, WW Grainger, and as a management consultant serving clients in the electrical industry.
Shinde will lead strategies for expansion into new markets as well as spearhead the launch of new products for control power and heating cable applications. He has also held the position of vice president of Appleton Canada with responsibility for sales, marketing and operations. Prior to joining Emerson in 2011 as director of Planning for Commercial Industrial Solutions, Shinde was manager in the Strategy and Operations practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP based out of the firm's Chicago office.
Ugarte will direct the sales of electrical products targeting the North American hazardous location petrochemical and chemical processing markets, among others. He was previously vice president of Global Sales for TESCOM/Anderson Greenwood Instrumentation, another business unit of Emerson Automation Solutions.
Russ Kerstetter, president of Electrical Apparatus & Lighting at Emerson Automation Solutions, expressed his appreciation to Peterson. “I want to thank John for his leadership and unwavering dedication over the years to delivering the best to our customers,” Kerstetter said. “He has played a vital role in helping the Appleton brand become the global powerhouse it is today. Speaking for everyone at Emerson, I wish him well in his retirement.”