AAON Board of Directors last week appointed Matt J. Tobolski CEO effective 13 May, 2025.
He will replace Gary Fields, who will remain a member of the Board of Directors and serve as a special advisor to the Board to help ensure a smooth transition.
Dr. Tobolski, currently serving as president and COO of the company, will assume the CEO role as AAON continues to strengthen its market position through significant investments in data centre cooling production capacity, positioning AAON for sustained growth.
He brings extensive leadership experience and robust understanding of the engineering and manufacturing of HVAC systems, particularly in the data centre thermal management market.
Dr. Tobolski previously served as president of BASX Solutions, a company he co-founded in 2013 and AAON acquired in December 2021.
Tobolski said he looks forward to the challenge of leading the company into its next phase of growth.
"By leveraging the innovative spirit and highly talented engineering resources of both AAON and BASX, we are well-positioned to grow the company's prominence in the industry. As we enter this evolutionary phase, I look forward to strengthening relationships and continuing to deliver industry-leading solutions,” he said.
Fields said that he was transitioning out of the CEO role, he is not retiring.
“I will remain involved as a mentor and advisor to ensure a seamless transition and support the company as it continues to evolve,” Fields said.
Since Fields became president in 2016, sales of AAON have more than tripled and market capitalization of the company has grown over 500 per cent. After stepping down as CEO in May, Fields will remain as special advisor to the Board.