Rockwell Automation announces senior VP operations and engineering services

Rockwell Automation has announced a senior leadership transition effective November 1, 2019 as Ernest Nicolas, currently vice-president, global supply chain, is promoted to senior vice-president, operations and engineering services (OES).

Mike Laszkiewicz, currently in the role of senior vice-president, operations and engineering services, has announced his intent to retire effective January 31, 2020.

Nicolas will report to Blake Moret, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation. Nicolas will have global leadership accountability for the six functions in OES that include global supply chain, quality and continuous improvement, engineering services, manufacturing operations, manufacturing services, and workplace services. Nicolas will lead more than 9,500 OES employees and contractors and 19 manufacturing plants globally.

Laszkiewicz will continue to report to Moret until his retirement and will work to ensure a successful transition. “I appreciate Mike’s continued service to ensure smooth leadership transitions in the coming months,” says Moret in a release. “Mike has held many leadership roles through his 30-year career, notably leading the power control business in CP&S before his senior leadership role in OES. His counsel to me has been tremendously valuable.”

“Ernest is precisely the kind of leader I want to accelerate our growth. Ernest brings a wealth of manufacturing and supply chain leadership experience, and a passion for people, with genuine care for team success,” says Moret. “I value his thoughtful and strategic counsel.”

Nicolas joined Rockwell Automation in 2006 as a Lean, Six Sigma project manager and has held several roles within the OES functions, including vice-president, global supply chain and vice-president strategic sourcing and supply management, director of Asia-Pacific manufacturing operations and plant manager of the Twinsburg operations.

Before Rockwell Automation, Nicolas spent nine years in various roles of increasing responsibility at General Motors Corporation. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), the advisory board for the Grainger Center of Supply Chain Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and on the board of directors for the Milwaukee Urban League.

Nicolas holds a MBA in Operations Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Kettering University.