Watlow Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Watlow has 7 executives leading key functions including strategy, financial oversight, technology development, operational scaling, human capital, and corporate leadership.

Driven by a century of thermal expertise, Watlow delivers advanced industrial heating, sensing, and control solutions to optimize complex thermal systems for global manufacturing partners.

Leadership Roles at Watlow

  • Chief Executive Officer - Rob Gilmore
  • Chief Financial Officer - Colleen Mettler
  • Chief Financial Officer & Partner - Rina Esquivel-Tanchico
  • Chief Operating Officer - Dan Lee
  • President - Gary Neal
  • Chief Technology Officer - Ashish Bhatnagar
  • Chief Human Resources Officer - Erica McKeon
  • Rob Gilmore - Chief Executive Officer

    Rob Gilmore, the Chief Executive Officer at Watlow, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the organization. Gilmore manages the alignment of industrial heater, sensor, and controller manufacturing with evolving market demands across North American and international sectors. By fostering innovation in thermal technology, the Chief Executive Officer ensures the company maintains a competitive edge in complex industrial environments. Gilmore collaborates with the board to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence. This leadership position requires constant evaluation of global market trends to refine the product portfolio. Through rigorous oversight of corporate initiatives, Rob Gilmore secures the company's position as a leader in thermal solutions. The Chief Executive Officer champions a culture of precision and reliability, ensuring that every manufactured component meets the highest standards of industrial performance while supporting the broader mission of delivering advanced thermal system integration to diverse global clients.
    Rob Gilmore

    Colleen Mettler - Chief Financial Officer

    Colleen Mettler, the Chief Financial Officer at Watlow, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies necessary for sustaining industrial manufacturing operations. Mettler oversees financial planning, reporting, and risk management to ensure the company maintains robust liquidity for ongoing research and development in thermal technologies. By analyzing global market data, the Chief Financial Officer optimizes cost structures across the supply chain, directly impacting the profitability of heater and sensor production lines. Colleen Mettler coordinates with executive leadership to fund strategic expansion initiatives and capital investments. This role involves maintaining strict compliance with international financial regulations while providing the transparency required for long-term stakeholder confidence. Through disciplined fiscal management, Mettler supports the company's ability to innovate within the competitive industrial machinery sector. The Chief Financial Officer ensures that financial resources align with the core mission of providing high-performance thermal solutions to industrial partners worldwide.

    Rina Esquivel-Tanchico - Chief Financial Officer & Partner

    Rina Esquivel-Tanchico, the Chief Financial Officer & Partner at Watlow, manages strategic financial partnerships and long-term investment strategies to bolster the company's market position. Esquivel-Tanchico oversees the integration of financial data with business development goals, ensuring that capital investments support the expansion of thermal technology capabilities. By evaluating potential acquisitions and joint ventures, the Chief Financial Officer & Partner identifies opportunities to strengthen the company's presence in the industrial machinery sector. Rina Esquivel-Tanchico provides the financial analysis required for high-level decision-making, ensuring that all strategic moves align with the company's long-term growth objectives. This role involves managing complex financial structures and fostering relationships with key stakeholders to ensure sustained profitability. Through rigorous financial oversight, Esquivel-Tanchico supports the company's mission of delivering innovative thermal solutions. The Chief Financial Officer & Partner ensures that the organization maintains the financial agility needed to navigate the evolving landscape of industrial manufacturing.

    Dan Lee - Chief Operating Officer

    Dan Lee, the Chief Operating Officer at Watlow, directs the global manufacturing footprint and supply chain logistics to ensure the seamless production of industrial thermal components. Lee oversees the daily operations of production facilities, focusing on lean manufacturing principles to maximize output efficiency and quality control. By optimizing the flow of raw materials and finished goods, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that the company meets the rigorous delivery schedules of industrial partners across diverse geographic markets. Dan Lee coordinates with engineering and sales teams to align production capacity with fluctuating demand for heaters, sensors, and controllers. This role involves implementing advanced manufacturing technologies to reduce waste and improve operational throughput. Through meticulous management of the production environment, Lee maintains the high standards of precision required for industrial machinery. The Chief Operating Officer drives the operational excellence necessary to support the company's mission of providing reliable thermal solutions to the global industrial sector.
    Dan Lee

    Gary Neal - President

    Gary Neal, the President at Watlow, directs the execution of business unit objectives and ensures the seamless integration of product lines across the company's global operations. Neal oversees the commercial performance of industrial heaters, sensors, and controllers, focusing on market penetration and customer satisfaction. By coordinating between sales, marketing, and product development, the President ensures that the company's thermal solutions meet the specific needs of diverse industrial applications. Gary Neal drives the implementation of customer-centric strategies that enhance the company's reputation for quality and reliability. This role involves managing the day-to-day business activities to ensure that all departments remain aligned with the overarching corporate mission. Through active engagement with key clients and partners, Neal identifies new growth opportunities and strengthens the company's market position. The President ensures that the organization delivers consistent value to industrial partners, reinforcing the company's status as a premier provider of advanced thermal management technology.

    Ashish Bhatnagar - Chief Technology Officer

    Ashish Bhatnagar, the Chief Technology Officer at Watlow, architects the research and development roadmap for next-generation industrial heaters, sensors, and controllers. Bhatnagar directs engineering teams to push the boundaries of thermal science, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of industrial automation and precision control. By integrating advanced materials and digital connectivity into product designs, the Chief Technology Officer enhances the efficiency and reliability of thermal systems for global manufacturing applications. Ashish Bhatnagar collaborates with product managers to translate complex technical requirements into scalable, market-ready solutions. This leadership role involves overseeing the patent portfolio and technical innovation pipeline to protect the company's intellectual property. Through continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, Bhatnagar drives the development of high-performance components that solve critical thermal challenges. The Chief Technology Officer ensures that technological advancements directly support the company's commitment to delivering superior thermal management solutions to industrial clients.

    Erica McKeon - Chief Human Resources Officer

    Erica McKeon, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Watlow, directs the talent acquisition, organizational development, and employee engagement strategies that support the company's workforce. McKeon oversees the cultivation of a high-performance culture, ensuring that the engineering and manufacturing teams possess the specialized skills required to design and produce advanced thermal systems. By implementing comprehensive training and development programs, the Chief Human Resources Officer fosters innovation and technical expertise across the global organization. Erica McKeon manages the alignment of human capital with the company's strategic goals, ensuring that the workforce remains agile and responsive to industrial market shifts. This role involves overseeing compensation, benefits, and diversity initiatives to attract and retain top-tier talent in the competitive manufacturing sector. Through effective leadership development, McKeon ensures that the company maintains a strong pipeline of future leaders. The Chief Human Resources Officer supports the mission by building a resilient, skilled workforce dedicated to thermal excellence.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Watlow Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Watlow?
    Watlow is led by Rob Gilmore (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Colleen Mettler (Chief Financial Officer) and Rina Esquivel-Tanchico (Chief Financial Officer & Partner).
    Who is part of Watlow’s executive team?
    The executive team of Watlow includes leaders such as Rob Gilmore (Chief Executive Officer), Colleen Mettler (Chief Financial Officer), Rina Esquivel-Tanchico (Chief Financial Officer & Partner) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Watlow have?
    Watlow has 7 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Watlow’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Watlow includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Partner, Chief Operating Officer, President.