Paul W. Jones, Executive Chairman of A. O. Smith Corporation, named National EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2013 Distribution and Manufacturing Award winner
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul W. Jones, Executive Chairman of A. O. Smith Corporation, has been named the National EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2013 Distribution and Manufacturing Award winner. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award is the country's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.
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Jones was recognized for bringing the 139-year-old manufacturing company the next level of innovative strategy, business approach and new service offerings. He was honored at the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala, the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum® in Palm Springs, Calif. The Forum is the nation's premier gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Awards were given in 10 additional categories.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and from more than 250 regional award recipients.
"Jones' bold decision-making definitely impressed our judges,'" said Bryan Pearce, EY Americas Director, Entrepreneur Of The Year. "Jones helped the company grow internationally both in China and India, which are now both highly successful ventures."
Out with the old, in with the new
"When I joined the company, we needed to rationalize the acquisitions we made in order to put the company into a more efficient operation status," said Jones. "Once our costs lowered in the marketplace, we were able to focus on bringing innovation back to the equation."
A. O. Smith Corporation is now number one in China, and on its way to becoming number one in India. When Jones joined A. O. Smith, the company was already in China, but only had 8% share – a number that's grown to 25% today.
Growing internationally
As the last several years saw a continued lack in the US housing industry, A. O. Smith Corporation had to grow the business, and shares, outside of the country. "We've had to put an emphasis on China and India by highlighting our new products and technology in order to generate better returns for our shareholders, as well as growing in other countries," Jones said.
With manufacturing operations in the US, Canada, Mexico, China, India and Europe, A. O. Smith has sales and distribution in more than 60 countries around the world.
Jones began his career with General Electric Company, spending 19 years in progressively more responsible positions in the Power Systems; Plastics; Drives, Motor and Generator; and Transportation units. From 1989 until 1998, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenfield Industries, Inc., of Augusta, Ga., a manufacturer of cutting tools and other material-removal products. Jones served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1998 until 2002 of US Can Company, Inc., of Lombard, Ill., a leading provider of containers for personal care, household, paint and industrial products. Jones then joined A. O. Smith in January 2004 as President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all worldwide operations, and became Chairman and CEO in January 2006. He was elected to the company's Board of Directors in December 2004. Jones assumed the newly created position of Executive Chairman on January 1, 2013. In this role, he chairs the company's Board of Directors and is actively involved in strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and management development.
National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Distribution and Manufacturing finalists
In addition to Jones, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Distribution and Manufacturing finalists in the US were: Gary M. Schuster, President and CEO, OMCO, based in Wickliffe, Ohio; Dr. Larry Sanders, President and CEO, Specialty Fertilizer Products, LLC, based in Leawood, Kans.; and Andra Rush, Founder, President and CEO, The Rush Group, based in Detroit, Mich.
National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Overall Award winner
Hamid Moghadam of Prologis was named the National EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Overall Award winner.
Video and photos
To view photos of all of the Entrepreneur Of The Year winners, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 150 cities in over 60 countries.
About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.
SOURCE Ernst & Young
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