MINNEAPOLIS — Daikin Industries Ltd., a global air conditioning company, announced that Jeff Drees has been selected as the new CEO and president of Daikin Applied Americas. Drees currently serves as executive vice president of sales, marketing, and aftermarket at Daikin Applied, and will replace Mike Schwartz, who is retiring at the end of August after 11 years leading the organization.

“This is an exciting time to be in the HVAC and building solutions industry,” Drees said. “The work we do has a profound impact on the world at large, helping customers address issues, such as reducing carbon emissions and improving IAQ. I’m honored to lead these efforts and add to the significant growth the business has experienced over the last decade.”

Daikin Applied designs and delivers HVAC technology that not only offers superior comfort but helps provide healthy, safe, and sustainable environments. Its offerings include equipment, service, controls, and systems integration for commercial and industrial facilities, encompassing the full customer life cycle.

Drees joined Daikin Applied in 2020 and has helmed the organization’s solutions transformation, expanding the portfolio of offerings and adding new capabilities through key acquisitions. He is a staunch advocate for customers as well as Daikin’s sales representatives and employees. 

“Jeff’s leadership is critical to developing the strategy, plan, and portfolio required to meet local and global challenges — air quality, decarbonization, digitalization,” said Hirokazu Hirao, director of Daikin’s Applied Solution Business Division, which includes Daikin Applied. “He is uniquely qualified to shape this organization to solve our customers’ problems and help us attain the top position in North America.”

Drees came to Daikin with experience in commercial engineering and operations. He held executive positions in private equity as well as serving in significant business unit roles at Flowserve and Schneider Electric. He started his career in the U.S. Air Force, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Aurora University.  

For more information, visit www.daikinapplied.com.