CompanyStats

Johnson Controls
  • HQ: Milwaukee, WI
  • 2008 Revenues: $38.1 billion
  • Employees: 140,000
  • Global: 125 countries
  • R&D: 25 plants in 8 countries
  • Fortune 500: 58

CEOExtra

While Johnson Controls CEO Stephen Roell sees good recovery potential in Latin America — especially Brazil — he’s less bullish on Russia. “The economic crisis and the volatility of oil prices have had a significant impact on the Russian economy,” says Roell. “We’ve seen several automakers delay or cancel their long-term plans there.” Even so, Roell is optimistic about growth in the other BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. Johnson Controls provides building efficiency and management services (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning; and fire and security systems) for commercial and industrial centers throughout Brazil and India, and Roell envisions strong growth ahead. “We are well-positioned in the markets and industries that we serve in all of our businesses,” he says.

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What are the most promising parts of the world for doing business?

Stephen Roell, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), says that while the global economic crisis has spared few regions of the world, he continues to see opportunity in many of the countries that Johnson Controls was focusing on before the downturn. The Milwaukee-based company, which provides solutions for operating buildings more efficiently, as well as making automotive interiors and vehicle batteries, reported fiscal 2008 sales of $38 billion.

“Though growth is projected to slow in 2009, China will still be one of the fastest growing regions in the world.”

“China remains the single largest growth opportunity for all three of our businesses,” says Roell, who joined Johnson Controls in 1982 and became CEO in 2007. “Though growth is projected to slow in 2009, China will still be one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.”

China has “a positive business environment, a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of the market, ready access to capital, low debt rates, access to natural resources and the ability to balance imports and exports,” Roell says. The CEO expects China to remain a strong market for the company’s automotive segment, where it has expanded its joint venture activity. Roell says Johnson Controls provides two out of every five automotive seats made in China. He also believes that China’s nearly $600 billion stimulus plan will contain plenty of chances for growth. “We will capitalize on our opportunities,” he says, “and we believe our future is very strong.”