Rheem Manufacturing Company has announced a major reorganization of the company's management team at the corporate level and at two of its three operating divisions, water heater and air-conditioning.

      According to Rheem CEO and President Ian Stewart Farwell, the reorganization will help Rheem "address the new realities of customer, supplier, and competitor consolidation that have exerted an enormous and continuing impact on the plumbing and HVAC industries in recent years. The new structure will allow us to work together and focus on our goals as one unified team."

      JR Jones has been promoted to corporate senior vice president and chief operating officer. Reporting directly to Farwell, he will have overall responsibility for the air- conditioning and water heater business units.

      Douglas Mannion has been elevated to the new position of vice president/general manager, water heater division, from vice president/controller. He will have overall responsibility for product planning, product management, sales management, customer service and divisional marketing activities for the division, which includes the tankless and Marathon businesses.

      Bill Hanesworth moved up from vice president/sales to the new post of vice president/ general manager for the air conditioning division.

      Also within the air-conditioning division, Jack Sinkler was promoted from vice president/marketing to vice president/sales.

    Three new corporate positions based in Atlanta will report to Jones. Robert Roth has advanced from vice president/marketing to corporate vice president/marketing for the water heater division. Alan Kessler has been named corporate vice president/research and development. Bill Lux will fill the post of corporate vice president/ business development, with responsibility for international sales and future business growth.