Daikin Applied Americas has appointed two new executives to its leadership team.
Jeff Shusta, a seasoned business strategist, joins Daikin Applied as vice president of corporate development and Ashish Srivastava, an experienced executive in digital transformation, has been named vice president of digital and IT.
Daikin Applied chief operating officer, Yu Nishiwaki, said the appointments add to the company’s considerable bench of talent which spans executives, equipment assemblers and service technicians.
“The way buildings are operated and managed is changing rapidly as companies look to improve comfort and air quality while reducing carbon emissions. Jeff and Ashish have the experience and expertise to help us deliver innovative solutions and an unrivalled customer experience,” he said.
Shusta has more than 20 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), integrations, and business strategy and management.
In his new role as VP of corporate development, Shusta will lead Daikin Applied’s growth strategy, particularly through M&A and strategic partnerships.
Shusta said Daikin Applied is going through a period of extraordinary success, and his goal is to help sustain and accelerate that upward trajectory.
“Daikin serves such a wide range of customers — from a hyperscale data centre in Virginia to a K-12 school in Nebraska. My team will help ensure we have comprehensive solutions to meet all of their heating and cooling needs,” Shusta said.
Most recently, Shusta spent 13 years at 3M in roles spanning strategy, business development, M&A execution, integrations, transformation and general management.
Srivastava is a senior executive with over 22 years of experience leading digital transformation and IT for global companies. Bringing his extensive expertise and leadership to Daikin Applied he will lead digital and technology strategy and guide IT operations to support the company’s current and future growth and portfolio expansion.
Commenting on his appointment, Srivastava said this industry is evolving rapidly and, still, the ceiling for innovation is so much higher.
“Digital technologies are the key to creating occupant-friendly spaces, optimising operations, and unlocking both cost and carbon savings. I’m excited to join Daikin Applied, and help the organisation develop the technologies that will create lasting value for our customers and the world at large,” he said.
Before joining Daikin Applied, Srivastava served as the IT and digital transformation leader for a business unit of a global healthcare technology company where he led successful digital transformation initiatives that drove significant improvements in commercial business and technology strategy.