ASHLAND CITY, Tennessee — A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces the retirement of Keith Auville, vice president of North America manufacturing, effective March 1. Steve McBrayer, vice president of global supply chain, will replace Auville. Eric Trott, senior director of global sourcing will move into McBrayer’s role.
Auville has been with A. O. Smith for 22 years, joining in June 2002 as plant manager in Ashland City, Tennessee. He was promoted to vice president of manufacturing for North America Water Heating (NAWH) in 2021. He led the Ashland City plant’s transition after State Industries was acquired, helping make this plant the hub of A. O. Smith’s NAWH manufacturing.
Auville also played a key role in the response and recovery from the 2010 flood in Ashland City, spending a decade working with state and federal governments to protect the city from a similar event. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked diligently to ensure a safe workplace, never compromising the team’s wellbeing — even when demand was at its peak…