Palatine, IL—Schneider Electric's operating division in North America has created 65 new positions in its Industrial Automation and Control (IAC) business to improve accountability and performance to better pursue emerging market opportunities. Besides implementing these "business development specialist" positions, Schneider has added new services and channels to support each of its five U.S. sales regions, including a newly designated Western U.S. region.

Nic Gihl, VP of Schneider's IAC business, explains that the new structure will more effectively assign responsibilities among the business development specialists and other IAC members. "This restructuring recognizes the realities of today's marketplace, where growth potential can only be achieved by providing specialists with the time and support needed to develop the customized solutions that automation and control customers require," he says. "It's clear that our sales engineers have been expected to wear too many hats. We're now in a growth mode, and creating these new positions will make it possible for us to continue providing the high level of service that longstanding automation and control customers expect, while also expanding our market share."