Paul Jones Milwaukee-based water heater manufacturer A.O. Smith Corp. announced that Paul Jones has been named senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer, effective Oct. 1. Jim Stern, who serves as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, will transition to become executive VP of corporate development, strategy and
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Paul Jones[/caption]
Milwaukee-based water heater manufacturer 
James Stern[/caption]
Jones joined A.O. Smith in 2023 as vice president of corporate development and strategy. He will also continue his role as secretary for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition, the company said.
Stern and Jones were both partners at Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee earlier in their careers. After leaving the firm, Jones went on to lead the legal teams at Regal-Beloit Corp., Harley-Davidson Inc., and Marquette University before joining A. O. Smith.
Stern has been general counsel at A. O. Smith since joining in 2007.
"As we shape the future direction of our organization, I'm thrilled to have Jim move into this new role, leading our portfolio transformation strategic priority," said Shafer. "Throughout his 18 years at A. O. Smith, Jim has played a pivotal role in helping shape our success, consistently bringing vision, dedication and a deep understanding of our businesses. With this transition, Jim will focus heavily on driving the strategic direction of our company, positioning us for long-term profitable growth."
