Watlow, a leading company in industrial technology and thermal systems, has announced the appointment of Shiyi Zhou as the new regional president for Asia. He will report directly to Rob Gilmore, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), and will oversee Watlow’s growth and profitability in the Asian market, joining the executive team in the process.
This new role is crucial for Watlow. Shiyi Zhou will be responsible for shaping and implementing the company’s commercial and marketing strategies in Asia. His focus will be on enhancing relationships with customers and sales partners to drive growth in the region.
In his position, Zhou will collaborate with local customers’ engineering and supply chain teams, connecting them with key resources for leadership, technical support, and manufacturing on a global scale. This teamwork aims to support the simultaneous growth of major multinational accounts based in Asia. Additionally, Zhou will work closely with business unit leaders to develop strategic commercial and technology roadmaps, using regional customer feedback to advocate for necessary product innovations.
Zhou brings 28 years of professional experience, having worked in both China and the United States. He has a solid background in sales and marketing across various industries and has demonstrated his ability to manage regional and country profit and loss statements effectively.
Before joining Watlow, Zhou served as vice president for the Asia Fire and Security Group at UTC/Carrier Corporation. He also spent 12 years at Eaton Corporation in China, holding several leadership roles, including general manager for the Vehicle group and the Hydraulics group, as well as commercial director for the vehicle group across Asia Pacific.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology in China, a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Rob Gilmore expressed excitement about Zhou’s appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to have Shiyi as our president of Asia. His extensive experience and expertise make him an excellent fit for this role, and we are confident that under his leadership, we will strengthen our connections with customers in the Asia region.”
