A. O. Smith's Wheeler Retires July 1; CEO Shafer Named Chairman
AOS•Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1 after 32 years at A. O. Smith, remaining on the board post-retirement. President and CEO Stephen Shafer, in his role since July 2025 and former COO, has been elected chairman to lead the board and global operations.
1. Executive Chairman Retirement
A. O. Smith’s Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1 after joining the company in 1994. He held leadership roles across sales and operations, became president and CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2020, and will remain a board member to provide advisory support.
2. CEO Shafer Named Chairman
Stephen Shafer, who joined as chief operating officer in 2024 and became president and CEO in July 2025, has been elected chairman, becoming the 11th executive to hold both roles. He will oversee board governance while continuing to drive global operations, profitability and strategic growth.
3. Governance and Strategic Continuity
Combining the chairman and CEO roles is intended to streamline decision-making and align board oversight with daily management. Retaining Wheeler on the board ensures leadership continuity as the company pursues innovation, acquisitions and long-term shareholder value creation.
