Daikin AC (Americas), Inc. has named Doug Widenmann senior vice president of sales. In this position, he will oversee further expansion of the company throughout North America, and help strengthen the Daikin Group’s position in the global HVAC industry.

“Doug was hired because of his deep understanding of our customers’ needs. As a leader in the industry for many years, I have no doubt that Doug brings crucial skills to help Daikin in its ambitious second stage of growth,” says Akinori “Andy” Atarashi, president of Daikin AC.

Doug Widenmann

Widenmann has amassed 26 years of experience in the industry in various sales and marketing leadership roles with three major HVAC product manufacturers. 

“I'm truly thrilled about the opportunities that Daikin offers to its employees, customers and market as a whole” Widenmann says. “Daikin’s core values of absolute credibility, enterprising management and harmonious personal relations, combined with the industry-leading VRV product technology, will propel Daikin to the forefront of the most exciting growth opportunity the HVAC industry has seen in my 26 years.”

One of Widenmann's major roles will be in helping the Daikin global group reach its strategic management plan goals called ‘Fusion 15’ for the period of fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2015.

Fusion 15 Strategy
Fusion 15 is a wide-ranging strategy described by Daikin Industries, Ltd. as a growth scenario for succeeding in what Daikin describes as "the era of paradigm shift." Eleven group-wide core strategy themes define the development, direction, and strategic policy of Fusion 15. Specifically, Daikin sources say, it will make collective group-wide efforts to implement:

• four new growth strategy themes to incorporate the changes of the era as growth
• four management constitution reform themes to succeed in the new era
• three themes to enhance Daikin's human resource capabilities based on people-centered management.

Additionally, an energy control business, in response to the changes in the market environment following the East Japan earthquake, will meet needs for electricity conservation.

To implement Fusion 15, Daikin intends to expedite the securing, development, and deployment of human resources necessary for business development and expansion in particular, as well as defining acceptable and clear compensation levels and standards promoting localization of group management at global bases, and personnel exchanges transcending companies and national borders.

One of Daikin's stated goals in implementing Fusion 15, is to own 10% of the global air conditioning market by 2015.

Fusion 15 is described in greater detail here.