Louisville, KY – February 7, 2025 – GE Appliances, a Haier company, has named Khalid Qirem vice president of Air & Water Solutions. In this role, Qirem will lead the company's water heating, commercial and residential HVAC product lines, while also overseeing a dedicated team that includes sales, marketing, and customer training and support. Khalid will be based at the company’s headquarters in Louisville, KY.
Air & Water Solutions continues to build on its founding mission of serving the unique needs of plumbing and HVAC pros. Since launching in 2020, this GE Appliances business sector has nearly doubled its product portfolio and invested over $100 million in U.S. manufacturing at its Selmer, TN and Camden, SC plants.
The business offers a comprehensive portfolio of commercial and residential HVAC systems, water treatment and filtration solutions, and gas and electric water heaters. Qirem’s leadership will oversee the launch of a new addition to the portfolio, the fourth generation GE Profile™ GEOSPRING™ Smart Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater, launching in June 2025. The GEOSPRING is the most advanced heat pump water heater in the industry[1], delivering up to 20% more energy efficiency compared to other heat pump water heaters and utilizing patented FlexCapacity technology to provide up to 60% more hot water than similar models[2].
"We have a long history of bringing industry-first innovations to this category,” said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances. “We were the first to introduce a heat pump water heater to the residential market in 2008 and we created the PTAC (packaged terminal air conditioner) with our Zoneline™ product. With our appliances in more than 50 percent of U.S. homes, our strong brand equity, combined with our best-in-class logistics network and digital capabilities, makes us an ideal partner for delivering innovative water and HVAC solutions. Under Khalid's leadership, we will leverage these strengths to provide the products, technology and training that our customers in the plumbing and HVAC industry are looking for."
Qirem brings deep expertise in commercial building systems and a proven track record of setting visionary business strategies and executing successful market transformations. Most recently at Oldcastle Building Envelope, he led growth and business transformation in the commercial sector. Before that, he founded and scaled Nortek's Data Center Cooling division into a global enterprise worth hundreds of millions. His international experience includes eight years at Johnson Controls, ultimately serving as vice president and general manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council region. In that role, Khalid oversaw all sales and operations, led comprehensive P&L responsibilities and developed strategies that drove market share growth and profitability.
"Air & Water Solutions has built an impressive foundation for success," said Qirem. "With our Pro-centric approach, best-in-class logistics network, and the power of the GE Appliances brand behind us, we have all the elements needed to accelerate our growth. I'm excited to work with our team to deliver even more value to our customers in the HVAC and water industry."
About GE Appliances Air & Water Solutions
GE Appliances, a Haier company, Air & Water Solutions is dedicated to serving the unique needs of the plumbing, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning industry. The division offers total property solutions from trusted brands GE®, GE Profile™, Haier and Hotpoint. Its robust product portfolio includes water heaters, water filtration, commercial HVAC, and ductless heating and cooling for light commercial and residential use. GE Appliances has never been in a stronger position to serve distributors, wholesalers and contractors with real-life solutions and the support they need. For more information, visit GEAppliancesAirAndWater.com.
[1] Based on the combination of all GeoSpring features available vs. leading industry competitors.
[2] Versus comparable water heater without missing valve at 120⁰ F and 58⁰ F inlet water temperature.
At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make good things, for life. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, we are a leading U.S. manufacturer of home appliances with 15,500 team members nationwide. GE Appliances, found in half of all U.S. homes, is proud to be rated America’s #1 Appliance Company1 and trusted by millions of families nationwide. We manufacture and sell products under the Monogram™, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier™, and Hotpoint™ brands. Our operations support nearly 90,000 additional American jobs and represent an investment of more than $2 billion since 2016. We are deeply committed to the communities where we live and work, passionate about getting closer to our product users to understand their needs and driven by the belief that there’s always a better way.
To learn more about our company, brands, career opportunities, and impact, visit geappliancesco.com or connect with us on LinkedIn
1 OpenBrand Consumer Tracking Survey, Q1 – Q4 2024, Based on Volume of Total Majors/MO/RAC – Retail Units