BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corporation reports it is continuing to strengthen its Commercial Laundry leadership team with the appointments of Michael Buzzard as director of product and brand marketing and Christopher Vasconcellos as senior product development manager within its Commercial Laundry business unit.

In his role, Buzzard will lead product and brand strategy for Whirlpool’s Commercial Laundry business, helping guide long-term growth initiatives and customer-focused innovation across the portfolio.

Vasconcellos will assume the senior product development manager role previously held by Buzzard, where he will oversee strategic planning and project execution from concept through design finalization.

These appointments further reinforce Whirlpool’s continued investment in the Commercial Laundry business, the company says, along with its commitment to deliver innovative solutions and strong support to distributors, owners and operators across the industry.

“We are excited to see both Michael and Chris step into these important leadership roles,” says Michael Ledford, senior director and general manager, Commercial Laundry. “Michael brings a strong strategic background and deep cross-functional experience that will help continue advancing our brands and product direction.

“Chris’s extensive technical expertise and product knowledge make him exceptionally well-positioned to help lead future product-development initiatives for the business.”

Buzzard brings nearly 20 years of experience in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and product marketing at Fortune 500 companies. His industry experience includes aerospace, building systems, power generation, home appliances and commercial/industrial laundry.

He has a bachelor’s degree in risk management from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Business Administration degree from Yale University.

Vasconcellos has almost 20 years of experience in the commercial laundry industry spanning a variety of technical and business roles. His background includes serving as a board repair technician, commercial/industrial technical support specialist, technical support manager and product marketing manager.