In a move that emphasizes the importance of sustainability to Emerson, the company announced the appointment of Mike Train as its first chief sustainability officer. Train, who has served as president since 2018 and a member of Emerson’s Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) since 2016, will step down as president to take on this new role. Train will remain a member of the OCE.

Emerson also promoted Lisa Flavin to senior vice president and chief compliance officer. Flavin will also join Emerson’s OCE. Flavin currently serves as VP and chief compliance officer. Emerson CEO Lal Karsanbhai has been named president.

“Empowering more efficient, sustainable operations both internally and for customers has been a longtime priority for Emerson,” Karsanbhai said. “Mike has been a critical member of Emerson’s global leadership team that oversees strategy to advance environmental, social and governance momentum, and formalizing his role in this space is an important step to continue accelerating our vital work.”

Train will focus on advancing technologies and advocacy to enhance company operations and enable customer improvements through Emerson’s solutions and partnerships.

Train has served in key leadership roles over his 30-year Emerson career. He started as an international planner in 1991, before becoming VP of planning and development for Emerson Asia-Pacific in 1994. He became president of Emerson in Japan and Korea in 1996 and then led the planning group until 2002 as corporate VP of planning and international.

In 2002, Train was named president of Emerson Process Management Asia-Pacific. From 2008 to 2010, Train led Emerson’s Rosemount business. From 2010 to 2016, Train was president of global sales for Emerson Process Management before being tapped to lead Emerson’s Automation Solutions business in 2016. He held this role until 2018 when he was named president.

“Our work as a company is increasingly focused on helping our customers navigate environmental and regulatory challenges,” Karsanbhai said. “Mike has decades of experience across industries and a deep personal passion for sustainability. He has been tirelessly driving our work in this space and will be an incredible champion for continued progress."

Flavin joined Emerson in 1998 as director of internal audit. She was promoted to auditor general in February 2000, before being appointed vice president of audit in October 2000. She became chief compliance officer in 2011.

“Lisa is a proven leader who has strengthened the culture of our company as an ethical place to work,” Karsanbhai said. “Her appointment to the OCE reinforces the importance our senior leadership places on the critical areas of compliance and ethical behavior. Lisa combines demonstrated expertise in navigating a complex, global organization with an intrinsic ability to lead teams to success.”