Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, October 2025 – A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a global leader in water heating and water treatment solutions, has announced the appointment of Chris Howe as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO), succeeding Melissa Scheppele, former Chief Information Officer (CIO). This appointment marks a significant strategic shift for A. O. Smith, reflecting the company’s enhanced focus on digital transformation and innovation across its global operations.
Steve Shafer, President and Chief Executive Officer of A. O. Smith, shared the rationale behind this leadership evolution, stating, “We made the change from CIO to CDIO intentionally to reflect our focus of selecting a leader with the experience to oversee our current technology operations and the vision to drive digital innovation across the company.”
In his new role, Howe will oversee all traditional CIO functions while leading initiatives that accelerate digital strategy, data-driven decision-making, and AI integration across A. O. Smith’s business ecosystem. His mandate includes advancing digital culture, driving automation, and enhancing operational efficiency through cutting-edge technologies. Shafer added, “Chris is the transformational leader we need to leverage the technologies we have invested in today and help us invest in new technologies of the future to drive greater value realization.”
Howe brings with him extensive experience in digital leadership and transformation. Before joining A. O. Smith, he was the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Rise and Shift, a cloud transformation and Generative AI consulting firm specializing in advanced digital solutions for regulated industries. Under his leadership, the firm developed a widget-based GenAI platform that reduced compliance burden and time-to-market while enabling Agentic AI transformation in partnership with Amazon Web Services and other global technology providers.
Prior to founding Rise and Shift, Howe spent 25 years at 3M, where he held multiple leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Business Transformation, Vice President of Globa
l IT Applications, and Director of Global Supply Chain IT Applications. His tenure at 3M was marked by a focus on global systems modernization and driving enterprise-wide digital programs.
A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Howe served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as Operation “Sea Angel”, a humanitarian mission delivering critical aid to Bangladesh following a devastating cyclone. His leadership philosophy is shaped by his military background, emphasizing discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
About A. O. Smith
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, A. O. Smith Corporation is a globally recognized leader in water heating, water treatment, and air purification products. The company applies innovative, energy-efficient technologies across its worldwide operations and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS). With a strong commitment to sustainability and continuous innovation, A. O. Smith continues to set industry benchmarks in delivering high-quality, environmentally responsible solutions for residential and commercial applications.
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