Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 31, 2005
BRUCE RITCHEY is President and Chief Executive Officer of WFI Industries
Ltd. WFI Industries Ltd. is the parent company of WaterFurnace
International and LoopMaster International. Prior to WFI Industries, Mr.
Ritchey spent 17 years with American Standard. He held numerous
positions in human resources, sales training, marketing and field sales
management. He served as Vice President of Sales for the $1 billion
Unitary Products Group at Trane. Mr. Ritchey worked for York
International and was Vice President of Distributor and National Account
Operations for the $1 billion Unitary Air Conditioning Group for three
years immediately before joining WFI Industries. He joined WFI as
President and CEO in November 1998. At the time, the company was
struggling. They had an operating loss of $1 million for the year; and
the stock had fallen from C$1.50 to $0.74 in the previous 12 months.
Over the past six years the company has rebounded and boasts the best
operating ratios in its industry. Today WFI stock sells in the range of
C$8.30; and has been one of the best performing stocks on the Toronto
Stock Exchange over the past three years. Mr. Ritchey is an active
member of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, the
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association and Vice Chairman of
the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium. Profile
then a picture of the things you're doing at the present time?
Mr. Ritchey: We are a heating and air conditioning
