USA – The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced today that John Lanier, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of North American Technician Excellence (NATE), will be entrusted with the same role for AHRI, charged with overseeing Public Affairs, Technical Services, Regulatory & International Policy, and Information Technology, while also continuing to lead NATE.

“John Lanier’s expanded role at AHRI will help us meet the many challenges that come with the growth and success we have seen and expect to experience in the coming years,” declared Stephen Yurek, the president and CEO of AHRI. “I’m excited that he has agreed to take on this challenge, and I look forward to having him apply his many skills and his focus to some of our most important programs.”

As part of his expanded role, Lanier will be expected to manage AHRI’s certification programs, in addition to overseeing its standards, software development, regulatory and international policy, communications, and information technology. Lanier, who had been named COO of NATE in 2013, currently oversees the management and execution of all of NATE’s programs. Mr Lanier has had a number of executive leadership roles before joining NATE and AHRI, most notably as Senior Vice President of Operations at the National Federation of Independent Business.

The AHRI also announced that Mr Lanier will report directly to Mr Yurek, who will continue in his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of AHRI.