ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. — A. O. Smith Corporation announced that Jim Margoni, senior vice president of wholesale sales at A. O. Smith Water Products, will be retiring from A. O. Smith in early 2020, and Rick Hawk, current vice president of sales for national accounts, has been named the successor, effective January 1, 2020. Margoni has agreed to remain on with the organization for a brief period after January 1 to assist with the transition.

“In his more than 40 years of service with A. O. Smith, Rick has proven to be a strong leader and mentor of others,” said Dave Warren, president and general manager for A. O. Smith’s North America water heating division. “He has a thorough understanding of the A. O. Smith organization and the overall marketplace. Rick has been instrumental in helping to guide the company’s North American water heating sales team to where it is today, and I have the utmost confidence in him as he takes the helm for our sales organization.”

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Jim Margoni for his nearly three decades of service to A. O. Smith,” said Warren. “Under his tenure and leadership, the A. O. Smith water heating division further secured its position as a leading supplier of residential and commercial water heaters. Jim has been dedicated to serving our industry for 40 years. His friendship, years of experience, and leadership will be missed by many.”

As vice president of sales, Hawk will be responsible for overseeing the company’s water heating wholesale sales team across the United States. Rick has bachelor’s degree in management and human resources from Trevecca Nazarene University.

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