Dr. Lei Zhang Schlitz was elected to ADM’s board of directors in 2019 and serves as a member of the compensation and succession committee and the sustainability and technology committee.
Schlitz currently serves as vice president and president, Global Products at Johnson Controls, a multinational company that provides building products and technology solutions for air systems, building management, HVAC controls, security and fire safety.
Prior to her role at Johnson Controls International PLC, Schlitz held a series of senior-level positions for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), an innovative, diversified Fortune 200 manufacturing company with operations in 55 countries, approximately 48,000 employees, and more than 18,000 current and pending patents. She previously served as executive vice president of ITW’s Automotive OEM segment, overseeing a global business involving the design and manufacture of fasteners, interior and exterior components, and powertrain and braking systems for automotive OEMs and their top-tier suppliers around the world. Previously, she served as executive vice president of the Food Equipment segment, a $2.2 billion business that designs and manufactures state-of-the-art commercial ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators, food processing equipment, and after-sales services for commercial food service and food retail customers around the globe.
Prior to joining ITW in October 2008, Schlitz spent seven years at Siemens Energy and Automation. She held P&L responsibility for an emerging growth business segment and successfully grew the product portfolio by building strong market-driven strategy, developing a high-performance team and driving differentiated innovative growth. She also had positions managing product development groups with increasing responsibilities in various Siemens divisions. Prior to that, Schlitz worked at GE Global Research and GE Industrial Systems as a program manager, developing next-generation electrical distribution products and equipment. She started her career at Eaton Innovation Center.
Schlitz holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics from Tsinghua University in Beijing. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers.