Nortek, Inc., a leading diversified global manufacturer of innovative, branded residential and commercial ventilation, HVAC and technology products, announced today that it has appointed Michael J. Clarke as its president and chief executive officer, effective December 30, 2011.
Clarke will also become a member of the Nortek board of directors.
As previously announced, Nortek began an extensive search process to replace longtime CEO Richard Bready upon his retirement. The board of directors selected Clarke based on his 25 years of relevant experience driving growth in both revenue and profitability within the technology and industrial sectors.
Nortek's HVAC-related companies include Nordyne, CES Group, Governair, Eaton-Williams, Huntair, Mammoth, Temtrol, and Venmar CES.
Clark most recently served as group president, Integrated Network Solutions at Flextronics International, Ltd., a publicly traded, global leader in providing design and electronics manufacturing services to a wide range of end markets.
Interim CEO J. David Smith will return to his role as a member of Nortek's board of directors.
"The board is very encouraged by the outlook for Nortek as our extensive review of our business plan is well underway and we have successfully recruited Michael as CEO. We feel that his experience and leadership will help us to realize our growth plan," said Mr. Smith. "We were attracted to Michael because he has demonstrated a long track record of expanding several manufacturing divisions through multiple market cycles. The board also felt that his experience in a broad array of sectors relevant to our business, as well as his proven ability to motivate, retain and develop talent would be important to Nortek and its stakeholders."
"I'm excited to join the Nortek team, and to build upon its long history of developing innovative home and commercial ventilation, HVAC and technology products, providing superior customer service and fostering a dynamic corporate culture," Clarke said. "As I join Nortek, I see significant opportunities to grow our businesses and capitalize on our superior products, customer service and people."
Clarke has more than 25 years of senior executive, business development and hands-on operational experience managing global companies in a myriad of industries including electronics, telecommunications, industrial, aerospace and automotive. For the past six years, he served as a senior executive at Singapore-based Flextronics International, Ltd. Prior to this position, Clarke has held progressively senior executive positions in companies such as Sanmina-SCI Corporation, Devtek Corporation and Hawker Siddeley. Michael J. Clarke was educated in mechanical engineering at Bradford Polytechnic in England. He has worked in various parts of the world including Canada, South Africa and England.
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