Tech Leadership Reset: Ming Cheng Named Chief Technology Officer at A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith’s naming of Ming Cheng as CTO signals a strategic technology pivot, reinforcing its digital transformation and product innovation roadmap.

As A. O. Smith Corp. entered July, it pulled focus sharply to tech leadership, naming Ming Cheng as its new Chief Technology Officer, effective July 7. For industrial manufacturers facing rapid shifts in digital capability, this CTO appointment isn’t just symbolic it’s foundational. Ming Cheng steps into the CTO role with a strong track record decades of digital transformation, deep R&D innovation, and real-world IoT integration at scale. It’s not just a résumé fit. It’s a timely alignment with A. O. Smith's shift in focus: breaking away from legacy systems and pushing further into technology strategy that fuels water heating innovation and reshapes its smart product blueprint.

Compared to its legacy model built on traditional manufacturing with slow, incremental tech A. O. Smith is now signaling something far more ambitious. The CTO appointment of Ming Cheng brings in a resume packed with real impact: AI-powered predictive maintenance, connected-device ecosystems, and a clear grasp of where digital transformation should lead. It’s not just a change it’s a pivot. Away from cost-saving tweaks and toward capability-driven technology strategy. In the water heating innovation space, rivals are watching. Hard. And A. O. Smith? It’s choosing to disrupt, not follow.

For both stakeholders and engineering teams, this moment signals a decisive turning point: either move fast toward next-gen water solutions or risk losing ground. With Ming Cheng now leading the charge, expect faster delivery of IoT-enabled systems, tougher cybersecurity layers, and a sharper focus on strategic alliances particularly across AI and smart building ecosystems. Internally, it’s also a clear ask: lean into agility, break silos, and drive real-time collaboration. Over the next few quarters, product pipelines and investor briefings should reflect this technology strategy shift. And as consumer demand tilts toward connected, efficient home tech, this CTO appointment could mark the moment A. O. Smith stopped iterating and started leading in digital transformation and water heating innovation.