MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Stephen Shafer has been appointed president and COO of A.O. Smith Corp., a manufacturer of water heaters and boilers.

Shafer comes to A.O. Smith from 3M Co., where he was most recently president of the automotive and aerospace solutions division. In his new role, Shafer will lead the company’s global business units, including operations, engineering, and information technology.

“Steve will work with me and our team to drive enhanced performance and continued growth in sales and profitability,” Kevin Wheeler, chairman and CEO, a press release from A.O. Smith said.

Shafer is an accomplished business leader with deep global experience in manufacturing and in leading highly innovative businesses, the press release said. He joined 3M Co. in 2010 and has held several positions, with increasing levels of responsibility, in multiple 3M business units in both the U.S. and China. Prior to his 3M career, Steve worked for McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Co., holding various roles that focused on manufacturing, supply chain, and operational improvement.

“We are excited to welcome Steve to A.O. Smith, where his strategic business acumen and extensive experience in global operations will prove invaluable as we continue to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders,” said Wheeler.

“Joining A.O. Smith is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of this iconic company. Working closely with the senior leaders in the organization to continue to improve operating performance, while maintaining a strong focus on innovation, safety, and quality, will be priorities for me,” said Shafer.

Shafer earned a master’s in business administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and will be relocating to the Milwaukee area, the press release said.