Our Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Sandeep Nair serves as Chief Executive Officer of Smardt, bringing more than two decades of global leadership experience with Emerson Electric across the HVAC, data center, telecom, and industrial sectors. Known for his strategic vision and operational discipline, Sandeep leads Smardt’s worldwide operations, building on the company’s oil-free heritage as it extends into a broader portfolio of thermal management solutions. Sandeep previously served as President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa at Copeland (formerly Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions), where he accelerated growth and led portfolio transformation. He brings deep expertise in lean methodologies, manufacturing consolidation, product platform development, and strategic portfolio actions including acquisitions and divestitures, along with a track record of building high-performing teams and mission-driven cultures. His background spans critical infrastructure for AI-driven data center markets, as well as growth across the pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, new energy, and green building sectors. Sandeep holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, and has served on the boards of several international businesses, joint ventures, and non-profits. As CEO, he is leading the company’s next phase of growth.

Chief Financial Officer

Amar Persaud serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Smardt, overseeing the Finance and IT functions. His responsibilities encompass financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, strategic planning, treasury, controllership, audit, tax, risk management, investor relations, and mergers and acquisitions. Amar has over 25 years of senior finance leadership experience across global manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services. He has held key leadership roles at prominent global companies such as General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, TD Bank, and KPMG. Amar has a proven track record in strategic financial leadership, operational excellence, finance transformation, and leading and inspiring high-performing finance teams. His expertise includes improving profit margins, driving financial integration, enhancing deal economics, and partnering with operating teams to deliver results. With strong cultural adaptability and hands-on leadership skills, he has successfully managed global teams and collaborated with executive leaders to scale businesses and achieve sustainable results. Amar holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, and a Master in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He is also a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (Ontario).

Chief Operating Officer

Feng Kong serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Smardt, where he leads global safety, total quality across all divisions, global manufacturing and supply chain operations, as well as ensuring effective execution throughout the organization to achieve the business plan and customer satisfaction. He also plays a key role in driving our profitable growth strategies, including portfolio and product expansion through mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Smardt, Feng developed over 27 years of extensive experience in chiller and air-side operations across various leadership roles and regions, including China, Middle East, and North America. His notable positions include General Manager for Greater Asia Applied, Operations Director for Asia, Middle East, Africa, and India, and Global Continuous Improvement Director at Johnson Controls. Feng brings a strong expertise in lean manufacturing, manufacturing process engineering, and operational excellence. Feng is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified and KT practitioner and holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Harbin Engineering University.

Executive VP of Technology & Product Development

Changiz Tolouee serves as Executive VP of Technology & Product Development at Smardt, where he leads the company’s innovation efforts in HVAC solutions, with a focus on designing and advancing chiller and heat pump technologies. With a deep expertise in product strategy and engineering, he leads the global engineering efforts and advanced technology development at Smardt, driving the creation of innovative solutions that address the dynamic needs of both global customers and the evolving industry landscape. With more than 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry, Changiz brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. Throughout his career, he has held key leadership positions, including Vice President of Engineering at Arctic Chiller Group (now part of Trane Technologies), Director of Applications Engineering at Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, and Engineering Manager at Multistack International. Changiz played an important role in commercialization process and system integration of the Turbocor compressors and helped bring the product from R&D to commercial launch during his 12 years with Danfoss-Turbocor. Changiz holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. His strong academic background complements his extensive professional experience, providing a solid foundation for his leadership in technology and product development.

Senior VP of Legal, Risk & Sustainability

Megan Schoonberg serves as Senior VP of Legal, Risk & Sustainability at Smardt. Following a 20-year career in law, compliance, and risk management within the high-risk technology sector, Megan joined Smardt as its VP of Risk Management and Legal Affairs. Megan sits on the executive leadership team and lends her expertise to the board of directors, senior management and global teams in corporate governance, intellectual property management, insurance, contract administration, international compliance and enterprise risk management. Also an entrepreneur, Megan co-created and led a non-profit organization assisting older adults stay active through part time work; chaired the board of a 50 year old non-profit charitable funding organization; and co-created an investment fund providing seed financing to Montreal tech start ups, where she continues to serve as general partner and board member. Megan is a certified Canadian Risk Manager (GRMI) with a strong academic background, holding a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and a Master’s degree in Law from the UK. She is an active member of the Public Policy Committee at RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society) and has completed the Chief Compliance Officer’s course. Currently, she is further enhancing her expertise in ESG through specialized courses at the University of Toronto.

Senior VP of Human Resources

Luis serves as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Smardt, leading the company’s global HR strategy to promote growth and strengthen its position in the HVAC industry. He is responsible for developing and implementing HR policies, processes, and systems that enhance operational excellence, workforce engagement, and organizational effectiveness. With over 25 years of HR experience, Luis has held several executive leadership roles at Schindler Elevator Corporation and General Electric. He specializes in talent strategy, workforce planning, employer branding, and change management. His expertise in building high-performing teams and driving cultural transformation has significantly contributed to advancing business success across various industries. Luis holds a bachelor’s degree in educational science from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico and is Six Sigma certified. He is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement and is passionate about developing talent and driving organizational excellence.

Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific

Ken Lim is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Smardt Asia Pacific. Under his leadership, Smardt APAC drives growth in both direct and indirect sales and service channels, covering a comprehensive portfolio that includes oil-free and oil-based chillers, airside solutions, and unitary products. With more than 24 years of extensive experience in the HVAC industry, Ken spent over two decades at Johnson Controls, where he built a distinguished career across various leadership roles. He progressed from a successful Sales Engineer to Director of HVAC Products for Asia Pacific, gaining deep expertise in sales, service, and product management. His leadership journey also includes P&L management roles as General Manager and Managing Director for Johnson Controls Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Ken holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with honors from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. His vast experience and strategic vision continue to drive Smardt’s expansion and success across the Asia Pacific region.

Senior Vice President, Americas & Global Services

Gustavo brings over 25 years of global leadership experience across industrial technology sectors, including automation, HVAC, energy management, vertical transportation, and material handling technology. He has a proven track record of driving value creation through organic growth, M&A integration, operational transformation, and digital innovation. Most recently, Gustavo served as Vice President for the Southeast at Climate Pros, a US based commercial refrigeration and HVAC firm backed by Saw Mill Capital. There, Gustavo spearheaded initiatives to improve profitability through organic expansion and redesigning its Go-To-Market model to expand market share. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of the Americas for the Alstef Group, a global material handling automation solutions provider, backed by Ardian. At Alstef Americas, he led the integration of the group’s first U.S. acquisition, established a global Center of Excellence for Parcel Handling projects and integrated multiple standalone operations from previous acquisitions into the group. In addition, Gustavo has held executive roles at Schindler Group and Honeywell, including CEO of Schindler Mexico, Senior Vice President of Schindler US Field Operations and VP & GM of Honeywell Building Solutions across multiple geographies. Gustavo holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University and has completed executive programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is also Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified.

General Manager, EMEA

Kay Wyrwich serves as the General Manager for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region at Smardt, based in Stuttgart, Germany. In this role, he drives business growth and strategic development for both the oil-free and oil-lubricated chiller portfolios. Under his leadership, the team expands direct and indirect sales channels and strengthens the company’s comprehensive service offerings. Kay joined Smardt in 2022, bringing extensive experience in the HVAC and Refrigeration industry, along with a solid background in the Oil & Gas and Chemical Process sectors. Before joining Smardt, he held the role of Managing Director and Vice President of Sales for the UK and EMEA at GEA/Kelvion, a leading provider of heat exchanger solutions. During his tenure, he led sales and service development, implemented a customer-focused organizational structure, and contributed to key transformation initiatives. He holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the Technical University of Clausthal.