AAON Restructures Executive Leadership to Drive Strategic Growth and Innovation

AAON, Inc., a prominent player in HVAC solutions, has announced a significant restructuring in its executive leadership aimed at enhancing the company’s strategic growth potentials. Effective January 1, 2025, this new structure is designed to reinforce the company’s market position and enable more streamlined operations tailored to meet evolving industry demands.

The recent expansion of AAON’s production capacity and the addition of a new facility in Memphis are pivotal components in their growth strategy. According to President and COO, Matt Tobolski, "New opportunities are emerging as we significantly expand our production capacity and diversify our geographic footprint." This expansion positions the company to effectively respond to market demands while embracing regulatory changes and sustainability initiatives within the industry.

To spearhead these efforts, Stephen Wakefield has been appointed as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the AAON products business unit, while Matt Shaub takes on a similar role for the BASX products unit. Wakefield, who joined AAON in 1999, brings a wealth of knowledge from his roles leading AAON’s Oklahoma and Missouri locations. His experience positions him well to drive product innovation and maintain a customer-centric focus, ensuring that products meet market demands effectively.

On the other hand, Matt Shaub, who became part of the AAON team in January 2024, has already contributed significantly to enhancing product management strategies. His expertise encompasses manufacturing, engineering, and customer service, which will be instrumental as he leads creative advancements in the BASX product line within the high-demand data center market.

Gary Fields, CEO, emphasized the importance of aligning leadership roles to better support operations and long-term goals. Fields stated that this initiative will enable the company to "stay ahead of the rapidly evolving business landscape and ensure best practices across operations, supply chain, and quality."

In addition to Wakefield and Shaub’s appointments, AAON will further utilize its skilled workforce to enhance global manufacturing capabilities. Larry Honel will oversee manufacturing efforts across various locations in Texas, Missouri, Oregon, and Tennessee. Whitney Wakefield will manage manufacturing support functions, focusing on critical areas such as quality control and production efficiency.

In the face of rapidly changing market conditions, the company’s restructuring initiative aims not just at streamlining operations, but also at fostering innovation and agility in their response to customer needs. This is a key strategy as the company aims to leverage its strengths in both the AAON and BASX product lines, focusing on sustainability and meeting the growing demand for energy-efficient solutions.

Founded in 1988, AAON has carved a niche as a leader in HVAC solutions, providing highly configurable systems that cater to the specific needs of its clientele. The firm’s commitment to innovation and customer service remains unwavering, as exemplified by its renowned testing lab and innovation center located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Furthermore, BASX, as a subsidiary of AAON, has distinguished itself in the market for high-efficiency data center cooling solutions and custom HVAC systems. With over four decades of industry experience, the BASX team is dedicated to delivering top-tier products worldwide.

As AAON embarks on this new chapter with its restructured leadership team, the company remains poised to meet the challenges of the modern HVAC market while delivering value and efficiency to its customers. With focused strategies and enhanced capability, AAON is set to navigate the future successfully.

For more detailed information about their innovative solutions and corporate updates, visit AAON's official website.