Eaton, a leader in intelligent power management, has announced the appointment of Paulo Ruiz as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective September 2, 2024. Ruiz will succeed Craig Arnold as CEO on June 1, 2025. Arnold, who has served as Eaton’s Chairman and CEO since June 2016, will retire on May 31, 2025, upon reaching the company’s mandatory retirement age of 65.
Additionally, Gregory R. Page will assume the role of non-executive Chair of the Eaton Board of Directors starting June 1, 2025.
“Our board is thrilled to congratulate Paulo on his promotion,” said Page. “Eaton’s strong market position today is a result of our mission-driven culture, strategic vision, and operational excellence. Paulo’s extensive operations expertise and global manufacturing background make him exceptionally well-suited to lead Eaton into its next growth phase.”
Craig Arnold praised Ruiz’s contributions: “Paulo has been instrumental in our portfolio transformation and operational profitability. I am confident in his ability to lead Eaton through this pivotal moment in our history.”
Paulo Ruiz, 49, has served as President and COO of Eaton’s Industrial Sector since July 2022, overseeing the company’s Aerospace, Vehicle, e Mobility, Filtration, and Golf Pride businesses, as well as operations in the Asia-Pacific, Central, and South American regions. Prior to this role, Ruiz was President of Eaton’s Americas region for the Energy Solutions and Services business and President of the Hydraulics Group. Before joining Eaton in 2019, Ruiz held various strategic positions with Siemens, including CEO of Dresser-Rand and roles at Fiat.
Ruiz holds a master’s degree in business management from Fundação Dom Cabral in Brazil, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from FEI in São Paulo, and has completed post-MBA programs at Kellogg School of Management and Fundação Dom Cabral, as well as the Graduate Development Programme with Isvor Fiat in Turin.
During the transition, Ruiz will continue overseeing Eaton’s Industrial Sector, with Heath Monesmith remaining in charge of the Electrical Sector.
“Paulo and Heath together bring a remarkable blend of skills and leadership needed to propel Eaton’s transformation into a global leader in power management,” Arnold added. “We have a strong leadership team ready to guide Eaton into the future.”
Eaton, founded in 1911 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange for over a century, reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023. The company operates in more than 160 countries, providing solutions across data centers, utilities, industrial sectors, and more. Committed to sustainability and innovation, Eaton is dedicated to advancing the transition to renewable energy and addressing critical power management challenges.
