Johnson Controls Names New Legal and IT Chiefs
The industrial company has added Katie Rowen as chief legal officer and Shauna Latshaw as chief information officer.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
Johnson Controls International named Katie Rowen executive vice president and chief legal officer and Shauna Latshaw vice president and chief information officer. Rowen was previously chief transformation and operations officer at Vontier, and Latshaw joins from Caterpillar.
Why it matters
The appointments fill two senior leadership roles at a major building-technology company, bringing in executives with experience in legal, compliance, and enterprise technology. Latshaw will lead the company's enterprise AI and data technology strategy.
The announcement covers two executive appointments made on November 2, 2026. The source does not provide operational or financial metrics tied to the hires.
The players
Johnson Controls International
A global building technology and industrial company that provides HVAC, fire safety, and building management systems.
Katie Rowen
A corporate attorney and operations executive who previously held senior roles at Vontier, Fortive, and Raytheon.
Shauna Latshaw
A technology executive who joins Johnson Controls from Caterpillar to lead its enterprise technology and data strategy.
The details
Katie Rowen previously held legal and compliance roles at Fortive and Raytheon before serving as chief transformation and operations officer at Vontier. Shauna Latshaw joins from Caterpillar, where she held a technology leadership role.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Johnson Controls announces the appointments of Rowen and Latshaw.
Leadership Trajectory
Industrial companies have increasingly placed enterprise AI and data leaders on the executive team to direct digital transformation across operations. Johnson Controls' hire of a chief information officer to lead AI and data strategy follows that pattern.
For shareholders and employees, the appointments signal how Johnson Controls plans to manage legal risk and technology strategy as it expands its AI and data capabilities. Customers are unlikely to see immediate changes from leadership hires alone.
The takeaway
Leadership hires in legal and technology functions often precede shifts in how companies manage compliance and digital operations. Watching how Johnson Controls deploys its new AI strategy will show whether these appointments translate into measurable change.
Further reading
Explore more executive moves and leadership appointments in the business section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News.
