Eric Varton joins Rheem to lead global R&D and technology as Alan Machuga takes a leadership role focused on digital strategy and AI transformation

ATLANTA (October 8, 2026) – Rheem^®, an Atlanta-based leading provider in the heating, cooling, water heating and refrigeration systems industry, today announced two executive leadership moves to accelerate its technology strategy. These changes will strengthen engineering capabilities and advance the use of AI and digital technologies across its unified Air and Water business.

Varton joins as Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Technology Officer, leading the company's global research and development, controls engineering and Program Management Office functions. Alan Machuga will transition from his current role as Executive Vice President, Technology and Chief Technology Officer to Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy & AI Transformation, where he will lead Rheem’s enterprise digital strategy and the continued development and adoption of AI capabilities across the business. 

These leadership changes reflect Rheem’s commitment to technology and AI as part of its long-term strategy. It also creates dedicated executive leadership for two critical priorities: strengthening global engineering and product innovation while accelerating the digital and AI capabilities that are increasingly shaping how Rheem operates and creates value for its customers. 

“As Rheem continues to evolve, technology and digital capabilities are becoming even more integral to our innovation and growth,” said Chris Peel, president and CEO of Rheem. “Eric and Alan will lead two distinct but highly connected areas of our transformation—Eric driving engineering collaboration and innovation, and Alan advancing AI and digital capabilities to unlock new opportunities for our customers and business.

Varton is an accomplished technology and engineering leader with more than 30 years of experience driving product development, innovation and operational excellence across multiple industries. Most recently, he led the engineering strategy and advanced product development activities at Yazaki North America, a global supplier of automotive power and data solutions. Earlier in his career, Varton worked for eight years in product development engineering roles at Ford Motor Company and later owned and operated a successful HVAC business. 

In his new role, Varton will enhance collaboration across global engineering teams, drive consistency in engineering and product development processes and align research, development and controls capabilities.

Machuga’s new role builds on the digital transformation he has led at Rheem, establishing a stronger technology foundation across customer platforms, data, cloud, cybersecurity and operations.

These appointments bring together engineering, technology, digital and AI capabilities to accelerate growth and deliver greater value for customers.