Copeland Appoints New Leader for Asia-Pacific Business Group

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 4, 2024--

Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, announced that Michael Toh has joined the company as president of its Asia-Pacific regional business unit. Copeland is a standalone portfolio company of Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, within its Capital Partners Fund XIII.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241104548224/en/

“Michael’s deep knowledge of the HVAC industry combined with his extensive Asia-wide leadership experience make him an ideal leader for our Asia Pacific business,” said Copeland's Chief Executive Officer Ross B. Shuster. “His proven ability to grow businesses, coupled with his strategic approach to innovation, are well aligned with our strategic direction as we continue to expand our presence in the HVAC, cold chain and industrial industries across the Asia Pacific region.”

With over 20 years of experience in HVAC and related industries, Toh has a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in dynamic market conditions. Prior to joining Copeland, Toh led Georg Fischer’s Asia Pacific operations. He led Honeywell Building Solutions' Asia Pacific Sales team, and held numerous leadership positions in Johnson Controls' Singapore, Malaysia, and China operations. Toh also held significant governance and oversight responsibilities as the vice-chairman of the board of Chinaust Group, a joint venture with a listed state-owned enterprise in China and has served as a member of the Global Executive Management team for Piping Systems.

“I’m excited to join Copeland and look forward to driving growth and innovation in this dynamic region,” said Toh. “Copeland is well positioned to help solve some of the world’s most complex climate challenges by enabling the energy transition, accelerating the transition to low global warming potential and natural refrigerants and safeguarding perishable food and critical medicines throughout the cold chain.”

Toh’s appointment is another step forward for Copeland after becoming a standalone company in 2023. The company continues to build and strengthen its leadership team and execute on its growth strategies with a focus on customers, innovation and sustainability.

Learn more about Copeland’s sustainable solutions at copeland.com.

About Copeland

Copeland is a global leader in sustainable heating, cooling, cold chain and industrial solutions. We help commercial, industrial, refrigeration and residential customers reduce their carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. We address issues like climate change, growing populations, electricity demands and complex global supply chains with innovations that advance the energy transition, accelerate the adoption of climate friendly low GWP (Global Warming Potential) and natural refrigerants, and safeguard the world's most critical goods through an efficient and sustainable cold chain. We have over 18,000 employees, with feet on the ground in more than 40 countries - a global presence that makes it possible to serve customers wherever they are in the world and meet challenges with scale and speed. Our industry-leading brands and diversified portfolio deliver innovation and technology proven in over 200 million installations worldwide. Together, we create sustainable solutions that improve lives and protect the planet today and for future generations. For more information, visit copeland.com.

Michael Toh, President Asia-Pacific for Copeland (Photo: Business Wire)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Rafael formed Monday in the Caribbean and will bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before strengthening into a hurricane and likely hitting Cuba, forecasters said.

Later in the week it also is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida and portions of the U.S. Southeast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica, and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands and for parts of Cuba including the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth. A tropical storm watch was issued for Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas in Cuba.

A tropical storm watch also was issued for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and for the Dry Tortugas.

The storm was located about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) while moving north-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), the center said.

The storm was expected to move near Jamaica late Monday, be near or over the Cayman Islands late Tuesday as a hurricane and approach Cuba on Wednesday.

Most forecasts show the storm peaking as a Category 1 hurricane, “but conditions over the next few days will favor strengthening so we’ll need to monitor how quickly it organizes, and a stronger hurricane can’t be ruled out,” wrote Michael Lowry, hurricane specialist and storm surge expert, in an analysis Monday.

On Monday morning, the government of the Cayman Islands offered people sandbags and announced schools would close on Tuesday.

“Residents are urged to take immediate precautions to protect themselves and their properties,” the government said in a statement.

Schools in Jamaica also were scheduled to close on Tuesday, with government offices closing on Monday afternoon.

Cuban authorities said Monday night that some 37,000 people remained under evacuation orders in far eastern Cuba, in the province of Guantanamo, due to bad weather.

The latest development comes on the heels of Tropical Storm Oscar, which dumped heavy rains in Cuba in October, leaving eight people dead and a widespread blackout across the island due to a collapse of the national energy system.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Observer newspaper reported a large landslide in a rural area north of the Kingston capital on Sunday that officials blamed on persistent rains ahead of the potential storm. No injuries were reported, but a couple of communities were left isolated.

Heavy rainfall will affect the western Caribbean with totals of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) and up to 9 inches (23 cm) expected locally in Jamaica and parts of Cuba. Flooding and mudslides are possible.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the season.

On the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Patty dissipated.

Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows weather systems Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (NOAA via AP)

Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane