Industrial automation
10 Emerson operations leaders
These ten people hold or have held operations leadership roles at Emerson, as directors of operations, vice presidents of operations and, in one case, a VP and COO of an Emerson platform. A reader can learn how operations leaders build and run their teams in industrial automation companies.
Professionals to explore
01—10Buzz Hyde
LinkedInExperience: Director Operations- Lifecycle Services · Emerson
Director Operations- Lifecycle Services at Emerson since October 2022, with a headline that describes the role as Director- North America Operations at Emerson Automation Solutions. Other Emerson roles include Director Operations- Isolation Valves (2020–2022), Director Demand Planning-Flow Controls (2018–2020) and Operations Manager (2015–2018).
David Hale
LinkedInExperience: VP & COO · Emerson
Former VP & COO at Emerson (2019–2022), in St. Louis, a role the profile describes as COO for an Emerson platform and business leader for Hermetic motors and TOD. David Hale was also Vice President Global Operations and Supply Chain, Flow Measurement Group at Emerson (2015–2019) and V.P. Operations- In-Sink-Erator at Emerson (1992–1997).
Gary Ruffett MBA, BSc
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Emerson
Former Director of Operations at Emerson (2005–2015), in Brantford, Ontario, where the profile says Gary Ruffett directed operational programs and supervisors for safety, quality, planning, procurement, assembly, warehousing, maintenance and compliance. Gary Ruffett was also a Six Sigma Black Belt at Emerson (2003–2005).
John Kelley
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Operations, Isolation Valves · Emerson
Former Vice President of Operations, Isolation Valves at Emerson (2017–2019), based in Shanghai, and former Senior Director of Operations, Asia Pacific at Emerson (2016–2017). The profile also lists Executive Engineering Operations at Baker Hughes (2019–2024) and Director of Operations, Middle East and India at Pentair Valves & Controls (2014–2016).
Karen Isaacson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Emerson
Vice President Operations at Emerson since October 2013, in Chanhassen, Minnesota, where the profile says Karen Isaacson directs final assembly and distribution of eight product families; the headline places the role at Emerson Automation Solutions (Rosemount Inc. Business Unit). Former Director of Operations at Emerson (2008–2013).
Randy Ekern
LinkedInExperience: VP Global Operations and Supply Chain · Emerson
VP Global Operations and Supply Chain at Emerson since October 2013, in Milwaukee, a role the profile places in the Operations department at President/Vice President level. Former roles at Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions include VP Global Supply Chain (2011–2013), VP Supply Chain (2008–2011), VP Operations (2002–2008) and Director of Vac Operations (2000–2002).
Raul Chavez
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations and Advance Manufacturing · Emerson
Director of Operations and Advance Manufacturing at Emerson since January 2023, in Harlingen, Texas, where the profile says Raul Chavez leads end-to-end operations and advanced manufacturing for a U.S. manufacturing site. Other Emerson roles include Director of Operations (2020–2023) and Plant Manager (2018–2020).
Scott Olson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Emerson
Former Vice President Operations at Emerson (2015–2019). The profile also lists Vice President, Global Operations Strategy at Emerson from 2019 with no end date, though its summary describes that role in the past tense and says Scott Olson worked for the Rosemount Business Unit, a supplier of field instruments for the process control industry.
Ted Beresford
LinkedInExperience: Director, Operations & EMS Americas at Emerson, Energy & Transportation Solutions · Emerson
Director, Operations & EMS Americas at Emerson, Energy & Transportation Solutions since October 2024, in Pittsburgh, a role the profile ties to leading contract electronics manufacturing and driving supplier optimization. Other Emerson roles include Senior Manager, Global EMS & Electronics (2019–2024) and New Product Introduction Program Manager (2014–2019).
Terry Beachey
LinkedInExperience: VP Digital Supply Chain Operations · Emerson
Former VP Digital Supply Chain Operations at Emerson (2021–2025), in St. Louis, and former Vice President Perfect Execution & OPEX at Emerson (2013–2025). Other Emerson roles on the profile include Director of Global Supply Chain (2010–2013) and Director of Value Chain (2008–2010); the profile lists Terry Beachey as retired since October 2025.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to your question: site and product-line directors suit questions about running a plant day to day, while global operations and supply chain vice presidents suit questions about networks and footprint. Check whether the relevant role is current or past before asking about recent Emerson practice.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does Emerson decide which products to build in which plants, and how are those decisions reviewed over time?
- 02What operational excellence practices made the biggest difference on Emerson factory floors, and how were they rolled out across sites?
- 03How do Emerson operations leaders balance supply chain cost, delivery and quality targets across regions?
Reaching Emerson operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Emerson operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Emerson, based on profile data retrieved on October 7, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Emerson operations leaders?
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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