Executive Vice Presidents Ramin Mehrganpour and Ed Blair have been named Co-Presidents, while current President Mike Pessina will maintain his Co-CEO role with Susan Hakkarainen
Coopersburg, Pa.-based Lutron Electronics, has announced the evolution of its senior leadership team to include Executive Vice Presidents Ramin Mehrganpour and Ed Blair as Co-Presidents as part of its senior leadership team development. Current President Mike Pessina will continue as Lutron’s Co-CEO, leading long-term strategy development with Chairwoman and Co-CEO Susan Hakkarainen.
“Susan and I are very proud of Ramin, Ed, and our entire leadership team,” Mike Pessina notes. “They understand our customers and business, have a long-term vision for continual growth, and work together to maintain Lutron’s position as the world leader in smart lighting and shading control solutions. This team has a steadfast commitment to upholding Lutron’s world-class quality and service standards.”
Ramin Mehrganpour’s nearly 30-year professional career has taken him to every corner of the globe. Throughout his 20-year Lutron career, Ramin has held leadership positions in key sales and business areas. His past roles include Director/International Human Resources, Director & General Manager of the Window Systems Business Unit, VP/Global Sales, VP & General Manager of Asia, Senior VP with global sales responsibility, and most recently Executive Vice President.
“Ramin has an outstanding ability to work at all levels of our company and with our global customers,” says Susan Hakkarainen. “His leadership, operational and engineering backgrounds, high standards for service, and ability to scale our business globally, positions him for great success as Co-President.”
A 23-year company veteran, Ed Blair has held leadership positions within all of Lutron’s business units. His past roles include VP & General Manager of Lutron’s Office of Business Development, the Commercial Systems Business Unit & the Window Systems Business Unit, Senior VP/Residential Systems Business Unit, and most recently Executive Vice President. He was also responsible for leading Lutron’s 2018 acquisition of Ketra, whose lighting technology has brought high quality, natural LED lighting solutions to homes and workplaces.
“Ed’s vision for innovation, strong drive to grow new business areas, and a special talent for leading teams and individuals to achieve – and often exceed – their goals and objectives, positions him for great success as Co-President,” Hakkarainen adds.
Pessina joined Lutron in 1976 and was appointed to Co-CEO in 2015. “Mike’s 43-year Lutron career developed the DNA of our leadership team,” Hakkarainen states. “I have the deepest appreciation for his outstanding leadership and am looking forward to continuing working together in this next chapter as Co-CEOs.”
