“Since Blake became CEO and joined the board in July 2016, he has demonstrated that he is exceptionally well qualified to lead the company and the board,” says Rockwell’s lead director, Donald Parfet. “Blake is a champion of the company’s high performance culture with an extraordinary ability to inspire and connect with customers, employees, partners and the leadership team. The board is confident that this leadership structure will continue to drive the company’s success.”

Moret, who is 54, began his Rockwell career in 1985 as a sales trainee, and later served in senior positions across the organisation, including international assignments in Europe and Canada. He was promoted to senior vice-president of Control Products & Solutions, one of Rockwell’s two business segments, in 2011, and to president and chief executive officer in July 2016.

Rockwell Automation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, employs around 22,000 people has customers in more than 80 countries.