Heat+Chill launch with key appointments
Andy Slater- 1 week ago
Hayward Holdings has announced the appointment of three accomplished leaders to key positions ahead of launching the HeatPro Series of Heat+Chill Heat Pumps with industry-first microchannel heat exchanger technology.
Darío Vicario Ramirez has been appointed to the role of Vice President and General Manager, Europe & Rest of World, succeeding Fernando Blasco. As part of the announcement Hayward expressed its sincere appreciation for Fernando’s many contributions during his tenure with the company and the progress made in international markets under his leadership.
Hayward has reported that Dario, pictured right, brings extensive experience from his previous leadership roles, most recently serving as CEO at Azkoyen Group. Prior positions include CEO of Thyssenkrupp Elevator for Iberia and Africa, as well as executive roles at Gunnebo, Goodyear, Dunlap and Bridgestone, among others.
He holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and an executive master’s in business administration from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra.
“I am incredibly excited to join Hayward and lead our business across Europe and international markets,” revealed Dario.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a company that sets industry standards, and I am eager to leverage my experience to expand our market presence and reinforce our commitment to innovation and customer service in these regions.”
Ray Lewis, pictured centre, has been installed into the open position of Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, leveraging nearly three decades of human resources expertise to steer Hayward’s global HR initiatives, shaping the future of the company’s people strategy.
He holds a bachelor of science in engineering and leadership from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s in global human resources leadership from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Previously, he served as Vice President, Human Resources, Residential HVAC & Supply at Trane Technologies and has also held executive positions at Allegion, Ingersoll-Rand, Doosan and GE.
Kevin Gallagher, pictured left, steps into the lead engineering role within the company, now elevated to Vice President and Chief Engineering Officer, spearheading Hayward’s dedication to innovation. With 30 years of experience in product development and technological leadership, Kevin will lead Hayward’s global engineering team, driving initiatives to reinforce and advance the company’s position as an industry leader.
He has a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a master of science in mechanical engineering from Oakland University. Before joining Hayward, he served as Chief Technology Officer, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Honeywell and held leadership positions at Invue, Dorman Products, Inc. and DaimlerChrysler Corporation.
Dario will be based in Hayward’s European headquarters near Madrid, while Ray and Kevin will be based at the company’s headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, All three leaders will report directly to Hayward Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Holleran, who has revealed that he is thrilled by the appointments.
“Their diverse backgrounds and proven track records of success will undoubtedly strengthen our leadership team, propelling us toward new heights of innovation and growth,” enthused Kevin Holleran.
“With all three executive searches culminating at the same time with proven leaders, the timing of these announcements is impeccable. This marks an exciting chapter for Hayward, and we are incredibly eager to continue on this journey together, driving our business forward with passion and purpose.”
Hayward has also announced the promotion of Aaron Martin to Vice President of Marketing. In his new role, Aaron will continue to lead Hayward’s North American marketing team and remain focused on the development and execution of brand strategy, commercialisation plans and customer engagement initiatives.
Aaron joined Hayward as the Senior Director of Marketing in 2021 after holding marketing, sales, business development and operations leadership positions at companies such as Newell Rubbermaid, RSC Chemical Solutions and TTI Floor Care North America.
“I am grateful that the company is recognising me with this promotion. It is a testament to the hard work of our team,” divulged Aaron.
To coincide with the appointments, Hayward is now diving into promoting the launch of the HeatPro Series of Heat+Chill Heat Pumps that features six models; with three heat only models, and three Heat+Chill models.
This technology allows pool owners to set different temperatures based on the channel of water. If a pool has a spa section, for example, the spa can be chilled to cold-plunge levels while the rest of the pool can be set to the ideal temperature for swimming.
In a recent Zillow Research report, the real estate company highlighted that searches on its platform for listings that featured an at-home cold plunge pool are up 130 per cent compared to last year.
“The HeatPro Series with microchannel technology is a great addition to our innovative portfolio of products,” reported Hayward Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer John Collins; “It is robust, efficient, and powerful.
“We are excited for this new product to hit the market and proud of the Hayward team for building this technology that will bring cold plunging from high-end spas and gyms into the backyard.”
